[2] Cranke was also notable for his two stroke engine tuning abilities, and was also credited with helping develop Penton motorcycles.
[3] He also began competing in motocross racing against northern California racers such as future world champion Brad Lackey.
[3] Initial frame manufacturing and assembly were done by the KTM factory of Austria, which eventually took over all production and distribution in the United States.
Cranke qualified to become a member of the U.S. ISDT Team representing the United States at the 1972 International Six Days Trial in Czechoslovakia.
[6] He earned a Gold Medal that year in Czechoslovakia and, went on to represent the United States in 10 International Six Days Trials events while competing aboard Penton, KTM and Yamaha motorcycles.