When Jo Moore was announced as this year’s Coral Taylor Award winner, it was an achievement that took her completely by surprise.  
  
The honour, which is awarded to a New South Wales based woman for their outstanding achievement in motorsport, was something that a modest Moore believed could have gone to many others in the sport above her.  
  
However, the New South Wales native has built up quite the resume during her 40 plus years in the sport, both as a fierce competitor and a highly respectable official. 
  
Having been born into the sport by two heavily involved parents, it took just five years of being on this earth before Moore started attending events to support her parents. 
  
As soon as she was able, she signed up to Bathurst Light Car Club and was competing in as many club events as she could before meeting her now-husband Ron and sharing her passion with him. 

While she started off as a club volunteer and helped the club run rallies and khanacrosses, she and Ron then decided to compete together and have done so for the past 15 years. 
  
Together, the husband and wife team contested club and state level rallies before making the big jump in 2014 to compete in Rally Australia, where they enjoyed a decent result. 


  
Now competing mainly in the Motorsport Australia NSW Rally Championship, the duo has no intention of slowing down as they have brought their own three kids into the sport. 
  
“It’s a pretty special feeling to win the Coral Taylor Award. It wasn’t something I was expecting as I consider myself a quiet achiever but I am highly honoured,” Moore said.
 
“To win something like this doesn’t come around very often.  Especially having met Coral a few times over the years, I am very proud to be associated with her in this way.
 
“With my parents being part of the Bathurst Light Car Club, it was inevitable that I would end up in motorsport as I used to go to all the rallies and hill climbs they used to run in.
 
“When I met my husband just out of school, I was part of the organisational team at local and state events before the ARC (RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship) came to town where I oversaw officials and documentation, which was a great experience.
 
“For me though, I see motorsport as a family affair. When Ron and I are competing, our two sons Michael and Lachlan are there working in the service park for us, while our daughter Sarah supports us when she can. It’s what we do. We just love it as a family.”

For her whole life, she has been in the sport and developed lifelong friendships along the way.

On top of being a competitor, Moore has spent her time at events advocating for participation in her clubs, recruiting women to get involved with motorsport.
 
With so many achievements and memories gained over the years the 49-year-old had some specific memories stick out to her.


 
“There are so many memories and happy times from motorsport, but I would have to say that the biggest is when Ron and I ran in the 2014 Rally Australia,” Moore added.
 
“It was something I had never done before and to be going up against some of the best rally drivers in the country and the world with very little pace notes experience is the highlight of my career.
 
“I also think having an impact on the sport from a participation point of view has been important.
 
“From recruiting the wives and partners of competitors at our local motorkhanas and khanacrosses to teaching them timing and documentation to the point they can do it themselves and do it well - it's great to see.  
 
“A lot of them are grateful for me helping them get them involved into something they wouldn’t usually do - so from that point of view, the legacy I leave with the club is pretty special to me.”


Jo (pictured right) during a state event in 1998. Photo: Geoff Benson