From his early days as an engineer and racing driver, John’s career was defined by passion, innovation, and integrity. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he built and raced his own cars, the Warwick Mk I and Mk II, which used several parts ‘borrowed’ from contemporaries Ken Tyrrell and John Cooper. His racing success continued throughout the 1960s in European sportscar competitions, driving factory Austin-Healey Sebring Sprites and Ginetta G12s alongside names like Mike Garton, Clive Baker, and Alec Poole.

At the same time, John balanced his racing ambitions with a “proper job”, as an engineer for Automotive Products in Leamington Spa, producing brakes and clutches under the Lockheed and Borg & Beck brands. In 1967, the company established its Competition Products division, which evolved into AP Racing, where John served as head of operations for many years. His leadership during this time helped lay the foundations for what AP Racing is today, and he became a familiar face in Formula 1 paddocks throughout the 1970s.

In the early 1980s, John took on a new challenge as Managing Director at Alexander Controls Ltd, part of the Concentric Group. What began as a valve manufacturing business soon took an entirely new direction when Audi Sport approached John with a request to design brakes for their Group B Quattro. Rising to the challenge, John and his team produced their first performance discs and calipers, and in 1984, Stig Blomqvist won both the Driver’s and Manufacturer’s World Rally Championships with Audi A2 and S1 cars equipped with Alcon brakes.

This success marked the birth of Alcon Components Ltd, as John led the company’s transformation into a trusted name in motorsport and high-performance braking. His credibility, honesty, technical excellence, and deep respect within the industry, convinced some of the most demanding teams in motorsport to take a chance on a fledgling company, a decision that shaped decades of success to come.

From those humble beginnings, John guided Alcon’s growth with relentless energy, humility, and good humour. Under his leadership, Alcon expanded its expertise from sandcast 2-piece calipers to billet and forged designs, entered Formula 1 in 1986, and supported iconic programmes such as Audi’s touring car efforts in the 1980s and Toyota’s Celica rally team in the 1990s.

Alcon’s influence grew globally, particularly in the United States, where the company began supplying brakes to IndyCar constructors in the mid-1980s. By 1994, Alcon USA was established, supporting top-level motorsport, performance road cars, off-road, defence, and security vehicles.

In 1998, John and his management colleagues were able to buy Alcon from Concentric, allowing him to spend his later years mentoring and advising the next generation of engineers and leaders. Those who worked alongside him remember not only his technical genius but also his kindness and humility.

Alistair Fergusson, Group Managing Director, shared:

“His humility, willingness to help and gentle humour, won him friends throughout the world. To this day, anyone wearing an Alcon shirt at an event can expect to be approached by people wanting to share fond memories of John.”

Jonathan Edwards, Group Sales Director, reflected:

“John was very well connected, and had a wealth of racing and braking knowledge. His enthusiasm was the kickstart to it all, and huge credit to him is due.”

Andy Smith, Group Engineering Director, remembered:

“John’s energy and customer focus was infectious. His ability to bring the team along to deliver what at first sights might have seemed impossible laid the foundations for Alcon’s success.”

Phil Stubbs, President – Alcon USA, looked back, saying:

“John was a great mentor to me in my early career and tremendously supportive of the US business. I have warm memories of calls with him at all hours, to talk through everything from technical trouble shooting to new business opportunities. Whilst working with John, I always admired the respect he had earned from so many people in the motorsport industry.”

Michael Jones, Chief Engineer, Special Vehicles, added:

“John’s immense passion for motorsport and brakes persisted until his retirement, earning him immense respect from everyone who knew him.”

John Moore’s contribution to motorsport and engineering cannot be overstated. His legacy lives on, not only in the success of Alcon and its products but in the countless people he inspired through his vision, honesty, and humanity.

He will be remembered as a true gentleman, a pioneer, and a lifelong racer at heart.