Read this guys, we just lost another one

[75Carrera]

This is being posted for the many friends this man had and the years of pure Porsche he shared with us. If you knew him or are affected by this short tribute, please add a note to this thread. He was 62.


Jay Moore “Air Cooled Legend”

What is it that makes us view an individual as “Legend”? The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. Most would casually consider a legend to be someone who achieved recognition and/or fame through racing, publishing notoriety or other media. Someone we’ve heard about through national or international media sources. Individuals who surpass the accomplishments of others to single themselves out from the crowd as “special’. But this isn’t what legends are really made of is it? “Fame” and “Legend” are two distinctively different categories.

In the case of Jay Moore, from the small northern Arizona community of Prescott, “Legend” has been earned over a lifetime of pure Porsche dedication and the knowledge he acquired over 50+ years in and under air-cooled Porsches. We’ve all heard people described as “walking encyclopedias.” Those who seem to have an experience and memory base of little known intricate details that exceeds all logic. This is such a man.

Jay Moore worked in the Porsche factory for several years, drove some of Porsche Racing’s most famous cars, competed in many racing venues, worked for well respected Andial and started Porsche shops still in existence today. Then why have you never heard of Jay Moore? The answer lies in his humble, honest and complete involvement with the cars and the people who love them.

Air Cooleds Only is about as unlikely a shop or location as you will find. Like dozens and dozens of small one or two man shops it went virtually unnoticed for decades except for the many, many loyal Porsche customers and friends of this unique man. Of course the shop also did overhauls and repairs to Volkswagens occasionally (sometimes a little more than occasionally). Jay was known to say: “Porsches are our passion but those little VW’s pay the bills”. But Porsches, Air Cooled Porsches, were his single passion. Jay didn’t work on newer water cooled cars and with few exceptions any Porsche motors past the 2.7 or 3.0 Ltr. His passion and his Porsche life was dedicated to the early cars where loyalist Porsche enthusiasts lined up to receive his magic touch and uncanny wisdom.

Jay Moore is a “Legend” who deserves respect, recognition and appreciation along with the heartfelt thanks from the hundreds of Porsche owners he kept running strong for so many years. His amazing ability to craft specialty tools, find impossible replacement parts, understand every detail by sound or feel and pass that on to customers and apprentices was priceless. Yes, “Was”. Jay Moore passed away from lung cancer on October 27th, 2009 with his family at his side. We will miss his rye humor, understanding heart (when he had to ask if we wanted to hear the good news or the bad news first), his incredible ability to make sometimes complicated issues seem simple and his unconditional friendship.

It’s a cliché it seems to say things like “they don’t make em like him anymore, or they threw away the mold” but if it was ever true of anyone it’s true of this quite man. Jay told me near the end that he had no regrets and that his entire life had been an endless bucket list. His strength and dignity shown through his pain and untimely life ending ordeal was humbling. I suppose, in today’s liberal world, it’s acceptable for a man to say he loved another man for who he really was. I am far from alone in my love for this man, his talented hands and pure Porsche passion. To have had the 22 years of friendship and availability of his incredible craftsmanship applied to my ‘75 Carrera (now sporting a semi-tricked Jay Moore built 3.2 motor) brings joy, pride and tears as we say good-bye to a true Porsche Legend.

Don “donny” Blackburn
Prescott, Arizona

[mkossler]

Well, here's a tip of the hat and an RIP for someone that obviously commanded enough respect and affection that a Pelican member was moved to write the tribute above.

Long may you run, Jay Moore.

[s_morrison57]

Sounds like he was a special guy

R.I.P. Jay

[levdeb]

God speed Jay.

[Oh Haha]

Condolences to Jay's family and friends.

Sounds like he was a gifted member of of society as well as the Porsche community.

[mlfox]

Passion for Porsche knows no stranger.... God be with you, Jay Moore and also with your family.

[KNS]

Something to add about Jay:

I was doing a whole mess of suspension work on my SC, he said "Come by on a Saturday, will work on it" So he opened up his shop on a Saturday, we knocked out rear spring plate bushings, turbo tie rods and sway bar bushings that day. At one point during the day he said he was missing a race on TV and wanted to catch some of it. So... he left me alone in his shop with all his wonderful tools and equipment to work on it on my own. Complete trust, Great guy.

I had one of his "Air Cooleds Only" lisence plate frames proudly on my car until Arizona changed the law and made you remove any frame that covered the name of the state. That pissed me off.

He will be missed.

[75Carrera]

This was the last project car he completed. Now Sold: Shipped back home to the Stuttgart area

[steely]

My condolences Donny.
Rest in peace Jay.

[LeeH]

Jay rebuilt the engine on my car before I bought it. When I over revved it on the track and had to replace the exhaust valves Jay was kind enough to spend some time on the phone with me discussing valve timing. I really enjoyed seeing his car at PIR a couple of years ago.

Donny, what was Jays family situation? Seems I remember him bringing what appeared to be a college age girl to the track with him a couple of times.

[75Carrera]

Jay leaves behind his wife and two daughters. Nice family.

[dtw]

God Speed

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by 75Carrera

Jay leaves behind his wife and two daughters. Nice family.

[rbutts]

Sounds like a guy I would have liked to have met. I just moved to P.V. and read this thread. My condolences to his family and friends.
Rob Butler

[75Carrera]

I talked with Jay's widow yesterday. His final wishes are to cremated, placed into a Jose Cuervo bottle and cast onto the Sea of Cortez... I love it! A celebration of his life and friends will be held at the Smoki Lodge on Nov. 15th. I will post details and times for any wishing to stop by.

Nice to see your comments posted here.

[75Carrera]

Got a nice note from Pete Stout, Editor of "Excellence" hope they'll consider publishing the tribute in the Letters to the Editor. Also sent to AZ Zone 8 "Going Places" and Panorama.

Thanks to all for your kind comments...

[rfuerst911sc]

Rip

[75Carrera]

The PCA Arizona region of Zone 8 published Jay's tribute in the december issue of "Going Places"
Thanks to all who sent their regards. That's my Precious and the Jay's 911RS clone "CS" in the picture below. Sure missing our friend Jay...

[dshepp806]

My best regards to the family,...a great read......a legend, for sure..

Doyle

[M.D. Holloway]

well written for a good man