About

Because racecar is a memetic phrase in which questions about cars are answered simply "because racecar". For example, if one asked "Why doesn't that car have any trunk space?" then the other would reply "Because race car." ^[1]

Origin

“Because Racecar” started on January 26, 2011 on jalopnik.com’s off-topic forum “Opposite Lock.” The actual phrase came from a Craigslist posting for a Mazda MX-3, where in the description, the seller said the car has been modified “because race car.” ^[2]


A screenshot of the original Craigslist posting.

Jalopniks then started using the phrase as a sarcastic reply to any ridiculous question regarding cars.

Spread

The joke caught on fast, after Justin Hyde made an article on Jalopnik's front page regarding the meme on January 27.^[3] Other users of the site began to use the phrase as well, and a website devoted to the meme was made on March 10, 2011. ^[4]

Examples

External References

^[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalopnik

^[2] http://jalopnik.com/oppositelock/forum?comment=36200666

^[3] http://jalopnik.com/5745170/commenter-of-the-day-not-strictly-according-to-hoyle-edition

^[4] http://becauseracecar.org/2011/03/page/5/

^[5] http://becauseracecar.org/2011/03/11/the-origin-of-why-because-race-car/