The 'Because Race Car' meme originated in 2011 on the Jalopnik forums after a user posted an advertisement for a heavily modified and somewhat battered Mazda Miata. When potential buyers questioned the car's impractical features and lack of creature comforts, the seller famously replied with the short phrase 'because race car.' This catchphrase immediately went viral within automotive communities, becoming the universal, tongue-in-cheek excuse for any modification, mechanical failure, or questionable automotive decision. It perfectly encapsulates the illogical passion of car culture, where performance and racing aesthetics always trump practicality and common sense.