NESBA Mid-Atlantic Director Michael Moore crashed his supermotard bike and hit an unpadded steel Armco barrier at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) last November. After three days on life-support equipment, he was removed from the machinery and died. Now, one of his fellow racers is working to keep Moore’s memory alive and raise money for a memorial foundation in his name by taking pledges for an upcoming Michelin ASRA Team Challenge race, scheduled for July 15th at New Jersey Motorsports Park. “Mike “¦ was a devoted husband, committed to our sport as well as his many friends,” says David Yarnall, 61, of Westchester, Pennsylvania, a good friend of Moore and a racer who has been active in raising funds in Moore’s name since the crash. Moore, 45, of Philadelphia, crashed while on the track with two other control riders at a NESBA track day. It was a freak accident, Yarnall says. “It was in the chicane,” Yarnall says. “According to the cornerworker, the bike got loose and he went off the track trying to save it. There was one spot of Armco that wasn’t protected by tires. He hit it head-first. It was a very unusual accident. I don’t think you could replicate it if you tried.” Moore was placed on life support until his organs could be donated, Yarnall says. Motorcycles made up a major part of Moore’s life. According to his official biography, Moore was born in Orleans, France, where his father, a U.S. Army officer, was stationed. He returned to South Carolina as a child, grew up in the U.S., married his wife Julie and in 1998 joined the Vanguard investment organization as an IT specialist. He oversaw the company’s IT Technology Operations at the time of his death. He also ran marathons, having completed nine since 2004 and was training for a 10th. Moore did his first track day in 2001, and became a NESBA member in 2002. He served as a control rider for NESBA and as a coach for the California Superbike School. Yarnall had a set of Moore’s leathers cut into 150 patches, and Alexa Krueger of Spyder Leatherworks embroidered Moore’s race number 353 on each patch. Yarnall is selling the patches to raise money for Moore’s memorial fund. And Yarnall’s Team Challenge squad, named “Team Solid Performance,” will compete running Moore’s traditional number 353 in the July ASRA event. Yarnall is taking per-lap pledges to raise more money for the memorial fund. Proceeds will be distributed to the Roadracing World Action Fund and other causes in Moore’s honor, Yarnall says. For more information, contact David Yarnall at [email protected] .
Honoring Fallen NESBA Mid-Atlantic Director Michael Moore: Racer Seeks Per-Lap Pledges For July 15th ASRA Team Challenge At NJMP
Honoring Fallen NESBA Mid-Atlantic Director Michael Moore: Racer Seeks Per-Lap Pledges For July 15th ASRA Team Challenge At NJMP
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