Carl Cranke never won the AMA National Enduro Championship, but he is in the AMA Hall of Fame anyway. Why?
Maybe because he epitomized the word “tough.” Legend has it that after enduring a crash at the 1977 ISDT in Czechoslovakia, in which he suffered torn ligaments in his left shoulder and two broken bones in his left foot, Cranke was given a poor prognosis by the U.S. team doctor, who told Cranke not to do anything more physical than getting in and out of the shower for the next 30 days. Cranke simply replied, “I’ve got another race next week. I’ll be ready.” Cranke went on to not only finish the ISDT, he earned a silver medal in the 500cc class in the process!
Cranke would represent Team USA in no less than 10 ISDTs, competing aboard the Penton, KTM and Yamaha brands during his career. Not just a gifted rider, he was also a savvy tuner, and he is credited with helping develop the Penton line of off-road motorcycles into winners.
Cranke was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.
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