Remember there is now Sway outwards or inwards on a Lock Step in the International Style Quickstep. On a Lock do exactly as the Technique Book says. Especially on that first step outside partner which must have CBMP on it. Then look at the ladies action on that same step NFR. Get a thorough understanding of what that entails. When the man does a back Lock Step he also has NFR on the first step and must pull the heel into the cross. All this information is on pages 66-67
All of the above could be after a Progressive Chasse.

Thanks for all that information Three Wise Men, all in the style of an old friend on this site, but if you are going to refer to pages in a book it helps to specify which book!

Then, please read the original question and see if you can find the answer to that in a book.

Social Dancer. I think the original questioner not realizing that the V Six is not a Back Lock with a Running Finish which turns to the right after the Lock.
A V. Six after the Lock is a quarter turn to the left on 5-6 This is after a Spin Turn which finishes backing Diag. to Centre to start the V Six in line
Any move to the right side would completely destroy the movement
Alex Moore's book doesn't cover a V. Six. It does cover a Lockstep on pages 67 - 67.
I dont know what is taught were you are. We were always taught to do the V. Six on side two which is one of the short sides of a ballroom

"Alex Moore's book doesn't cover a V. Six. It does cover a Lockstep on pages 67 - 67."

It seems you have the 9th edition. (Why didn't I know that already?!?!)

The V-6 appears in the 10th edition where Alex says "The V-six consists of a Back Lock commenced with lady in line moving diagonally centre, steps 2 and 3 of the Outside Change (See Waltz section), and a Forward Lock diagonally to wall."

In the step description, step 4 (after the LF crosses) is given as "RF back, R side still leading" He does not comment upon why this differs from a normal back lock (RF diag back), which was the basis of the original question, irrespective of which side of the room it is danced,

Social Dancer. There are two entries into a V6. One according to Victor Silvester's book is after the first three of a Natural Turn. The other is from a Natural Spin Turn. Which is it in the 10th edition Alex Moore.
Depending on which is being used there are a different number of steps as well as an extra slow in the counting.
The V6 can also be done after a Progresive Chasse or even a Tipple Chasse

I think most recent technique books, including ISTD, IDTA and UKA, as well as Alex Moore 10th Ed, offer all these options. Most describe the Natural Spin Turn entry as starting with step 2 of the V-six, which is why I added the comment that step 4 (the step under discussion) was the one after the LF crosses.

Interestingly, Carl Bryant, in his 1953 book Advanced Ballroom Dancing, describes the V-six starting with step 1 being the man's RF back, which we now regard as step 2. He suggests dancing the figure after step 6 of the Natural Spin Turn or step 4 of the Quarter Turns.

Why not simply do a Natural Spin Turn at the bottom of side one. Then into the V. 6, the first step being on the man's RF backing diag to centre on the new side which is side two. With your forward Lock Step head into the corner and finish with another Natural Spin Turn finishing backing diag to centre on the new side which is side three.
If side two is narrow , one lock will do. If it's wide two locks or a double lock will get you into the corner.
Now we have to watch the Rhythm making sure we start the second Spin Turn on beats 1-2. Unless your chorographer has other ideas.
Remember, every physical action we take was designed to fit the music of that particular dance. The music comes first. Social Dancers don't worry. Just keep going, in time but out of rhythm.

Not unless he wrote from the grave, he didn't! Alex Moore died in 1991, not all that long after the appearance of the 9th ed (1986).

BTW, you can also dance a V6 after an Impetus Turn, and after a Progressive Chasse near a corner, where man dances RF fwd in CBMP OP, and then checks back to V6 DC of new LOD, PO.

Hi Interested,
RE the back lock part of the V6 - why is there not the "slightly rightwards" component that is used for all other back locks ?

Maybe, just maybe, you are looking at the wrong figure. Why not ask yourself the question, why that foot position is given on the lock step? You will, I'm sure, find your answer.

having quicky scanned thro' the various input i still feel that i don't really know the answer to my original question. i can see that a straight track might be useful for the V6 - but only for effect in the sense it creates a V with two straight sides.

As the previous poster suggested, the key is probably to focus on why the rightwards component is there in other combinations involving a lock. i think i understand why the sidewards component is there on step 2 of the forward lock (to create space for the partners foot as it comes into a crossed position), and I can kind of see that the sidewards on step 4 might be useful to allow a direct fwd swing to be made from a crossed position without obstruction from the other leg. but what i cant see is why any of this would not also apply to the V6 - as I say, maybe the different technique in the V6 is more for effect.