It is legal Lee, that is the way my new design is oriented for that reason, as well as a couple of aerodynamic reasons too! The only rule concern is the 3/4" top of the piston clear all around. The Polecat is set up so that the cheek cowl is clear when the piston is at 9 o'clock, so by rotating the engine you would still be clear (since the cheeks stick out further).