VALE JOHN MOXON
A CRUSADER ON FOUR WHEELS
The Formula Vee community recently lost a true gentleman and someone who took life’s challenges in his stride to help others, you see John Moxon was not only a capable race car driver and constructor he was also an advocate for disability service following a Formula Vee accident that left him a partial quadriplegic.
In his early years while working as an apprentice fitter and turner, John studied mechanical engineering at Sydney Tech, this was driven by his love of motorsport and he would often follow the major race meetings across NSW. John eventually joined a car club where he rallied and raced for several years.
In the mid 60’s Formula Vee was just getting established and within a month of the new category being formed John had joined as a member, it didn’t take long until John was serving on the committee and also supporting the category as one of its engine sealers. Off the track John was a capable mechanical engineer and he decided to put his knowledge and skill to work when he purchased a Mako Vee kit from Frank Kleinig and together with a wrecked Vee, John built his own car, the Moxon Formula Vee. The year was 1969.
John debuted his new Vee in February 1970 but within months his life would change for ever. John was testing his Vee at Oran Park when he was involved in an accident that would leave him a partial quadriplegic but despite this life changing event John’s commitment to Formula Vee remained. John continued to serve on the FVANSW committee and held the position of President despite not being able to take to the track.
John would go on to study Psychology at Macquarie University, graduating with honours, which he put to good use in a long and distinguished career in the NSW Public Service where he advocated for people with disabilities before starting his own successful consulting business.
John was one of Australia’s most respected and leading advocates for people with disabilities and he played an important role in the establishment and running of the Australian Quadriplegic Association (now SCIA), the Physical Disability Council of Australia (now PDA), the Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN), Active Job Services – a job placement agency for people with disabilities, Parramatta Computer Pals for Seniors and Parramatta Council’s Access Advisory Committee.
John was awarded Life Membership of the Formula Vee Association of NSW in recognition of his selfless contribution to our category over many years. John was also awarded Senior Citizen of the Year in 2010 by Parramatta City Council and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Disability from the Commonwealth Government in 2013.
John will be sadly missed by many in the Formula Vee Community but he will never be forgotten as his Moxon Vee continues to compete in NSW Hillclimb and historic events.