Represented the U.S. 10 times in the International Six Days Trial

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Carl Cranke, a 10-time member of the U.S. International Six Days Trial team and a 2000 inductee to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, died Saturday. He was 71.

Mr. Cranke earned seven gold medals and two silvers in ISDT competition aboard Penton, KTM and Yamaha motorcycles. The ISDT is now known as the International Six Days Enduro.

He was one of the top American enduro racers in the 1960s and ’70s.

At the 1977 ISDT in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Cranke suffered torn ligaments in his left shoulder and two broken bones in his left foot.

The U.S. team doctor, Ben Meyer, told him: “The most strenuous activity I would recommend for the next month is getting in and out of the shower,” to which Mr. Cranke replied: “I’ve got another race next week. I’ll be ready.”

He finished the 1977 ISDT with a silver medal in the 500cc class aboard a KTM.

Mr. Cranke was also a noted tuner and is credited with helping develop Penton motorcycles and his own specialized parts line.

He lived in Battle Ground, Wash.

Mr. Cranke’s biography is available at motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=151.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

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