A handbrake turn is executed by steering sharply into a corner while simultaneously pulling the mechanical hand brake lever. This locks the rear wheels, breaking their traction and causing the rear end of the car to slide outward. Rally drivers use this technique to navigate tight hairpins quickly without losing engine RPM.
Heard on the job
You blew out the rear tires doing a handbrake turn in the empty parking lot.
Also heard as
- bootlegger turn
Related terms
Hand brake
A manually operated lever that engages the rear brakes to keep a parked vehicle stationary.
Drift
A driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers to break rear traction while maintaining control.
Bootlegger reverse
A rapid driving maneuver used to reverse direction by locking the rear wheels and spinning the vehicle.