Moore and Moore

Photo: Luis Vivar

by Andrew Weyman

When I asked John Momeyer for a list of POC members who had a spouse, son, daughter, partner or blood relative who also drove at our events, the list he provided was surprising. It included:

Behr & Bayan Salehi Mickey & Riley Giacomazzi Chris MacDuff & Aspasia Zouras Dirk Wray & Alisha Wray Kip & Drew Waterhouse Don & Kris Kravig Don & Scott Matz Paul & Alex Filsinger Jim & James Mcloughlin Dave & Vanis Buckholz Brad & Brealyn Keegan Anders & Alexandra Hainer Vali & Ana Predescu Andrew Weyman & Terry Davis Darin & Ryan Moore Jim & Regan Steedman Mike & Angela Avitt Rich & Tammy Gildersleeve

Darin and Ryan Moore might be father and son separated by twenty-nine years but they are closer than any father and son could possibly hope to be. POC members since 2016, Darin and Ryan can be seen on the track, in the hot pit, in the paddock or climbing the bleachers wearing a headset, calling the race for one another. Prior to joining POC, both car enthusiasts put their “knucklehead” skills together and built a Shelby Cobra from a kit. They joined the PCA and began auto-crossing. Tempted to step up their game and not trusting their Cobra kit assembly skills, Ryan bought a 5.0 liter Ford Mustang and Darin unlocked the door to his new 996 Porsche Turbo. They ran HPDE events together for a while and spotted our POC booth at a Festival of Speed event. Stepping up to the booth, they were greeted by John Gordon, Ron Palmer and an unknown third POC member (me?). It didn’t take long for the Moores to sign up for their first free POC event.

Driver development happened quickly. Darin remembers that Brad Keegan instructed him at the Streets of Willow. Ryan Time Trialed in his Mustang for three years. The original plan was to buy a GT3 and share the car as they continued to develop their skills and move up to Cup Racing. Realizing that the wear and tear on a GT3 driven by both, as well as the challenging logistics involved, it just wouldn’t be practical. Ryan bought a Cayman and set out to crush as many track records as possible. Pedal to the metal, he did it. The Racers Clinic was a blast for them both. Ryan bought a Spec Boxster and was eager to step up his game. “Driving side-by-side through T8 at Willow with my dad was thrilling,” Ryan recalled. He also shared that he had driven with Speed Ventures and other groups but there was nowhere near the level of camaraderie that exists at a POC event. “My fiancé, Katie Shortill, and I have become close friends with so many members.” Katie’s passion for racing is powerful and she has been running their Cayman in TT. Ryan has earned a great reputation as being one of the most well-respected BSR drivers in the Orange group. Father and son recently teamed up for the 2022 Tribute to LeMans race and battled hard from day into night. Darin and Ryan are massive F1 fans and enjoy listening to the spotter’s radio transmissions with their drivers during F1 races. Darin told me that when they call a race for one another, father and son use F1 lingo. Their radio communication is precise and valuable. Recently, Jim Salzer told Darin that seasoned pro Craig Stanton was available to get on the radio with Darin for his race. Respectfully, Darin took a pass. Ryan called the race for him. As competitive as Ryan is on the track, he’s extremely invested in helping his dad do his best. When a black flag comes out, being on the radio can be unnerving. At Sonoma, Darin lost power between blind turns T2 and T3 when his kill switch wiggled loose. No power meant no radio to reassure Ryan that all was okay. When Ryan saw everyone but his dad on the track, Ryan found himself sprinting around every possible turn trying to catch sight of his teammate. Dad was safe and sound. Ryan lost a few ounces.

Darin recently acquired a ClubSport and is looking forward to driving it at Chuckwalla. Ryan is pumped to get out there as well. Although they live many miles apart, Darin expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to have two or three days a month at the track with Ryan. Not many fathers and sons, fathers and daughters or husbands and wives are able to enjoy competing with and guiding one another during a fast-paced weekend while driving a Porsche full-tilt boogie. Darin and Ryan are looking forward to doing it Moore and Moore.

Photos: Luis Vivar