{{short description|American manufacturer}} {{Infobox company | name = | logo = | logo_caption = | image = | image_caption = | trade_name = Crawford Composites | type = [[Limited liability company|LLC]] | industry = [[Automotive industry]] <br> [[Aerospace industry]] | predecessor = Max Crawford Motors, Ltd. (1972) <br> Max Crawford Composites (1988) <br> Crawford & Crawford Composites, Inc. (1996) | successor = | founded = 1998 | founder = Max Crawford <br> Jan Crawford | hq_location_city = [[Denver, North Carolina]] | hq_location_country = [[United States of America]] | num_employees = 30 (2018) | website = {{URL|http://crawfordcomposites.com/}} }}
'''Crawford Composites''' is an American manufacturer of carbon fiber and composite parts company based in [[Denver, North Carolina]]. Crawford designs and manufacture structural and non-structural composite components in industries such as aerospace, aviation, motor sports, health care, defense and structural construction.
==History==
===Max Crawford=== Crawford Composites founder Max Crawford started as a racing driver and mechanic in the [[New Zealand Open Saloon Car Association]] racing series in his home country in 1966. Crawford moved to the USA to join [[Dick Barbour Racing]] as a mechanic in the [[IMSA GT Championship]]. After the disbandment of Dick Barbour Racing the New Zealander joined [[John Fitzpatrick Racing]] as a crew chief. After successes in [[Can-Am]], [[Group C]] and a third place in the [[1984 24 Hours of Le Mans]], Crawford moved to North Carolina in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|title=Max Crawford |url=http://crawfordcomposites.com/maxcrawf.htm |website=Crawford Composites |accessdate=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030810200758/http://crawfordcomposites.com/maxcrawf.htm |archivedate=August 10, 2003 }}</ref>
===Mazda RX-792P=== In 1991 Crawford was contracted by [[Mazda Motorsports]] to construct the chassis for the [[Mazda RX-792P]]. [[Lee Dykstra]] designed the car as Crawford Composites was contracted to manufacture the car. The car was designed to incorporate many style elements of the new [[Mazda RX-7#Third generation (FD3S)|Mazda RX-7]]. The chassis was a honeycomb aluminium [[monocoque]]. The GTP sports car was powered by a [[Mazda Wankel engine#R26B|Mazda R26B Wankel]] engine. Two cars were built for Mazda Motorsports.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mazda RX-792P|url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4249/Mazda-RX-792P.html|website=Ultimatecarpage.com|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref> The car encountered several problems in the [[IMSA GT Championship]]. During practice of the 1992 [[Grand Prix of Miami (sports car racing)|Grand Prix of Miami]] the #001 chassis caught fire. The fire was caused by the exhaust setting the bodywork on fire. Drivers [[Price Cobb]] and [[Pete Halsmer]] were unable to take part in the race. During the 1992 [[12 Hours of Sebring]] the car caught fire again. The two cars competed a total of 22 races in the [[1992 IMSA GT Championship season]]. The cars scored two podium finishes, a third place at [[Lime Rock Park]] and a second place at [[Watkins Glen International Raceway]]. After a number of technical failures to finish the cars were retired after the season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mazda RX-792P|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/archive/Mazda/RX-792P.html|website=Racing Sports Cars|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref>
===IRL=== Crawford Composites was contracted by [[Riley & Scott]] to construct the chassis for their [[IndyCar Series|Indy Racing League]] program. The Crawford Composites constructed Riley & Scott Mk. V made its racing debut during the [[1998 Indy 200]] at [[Walt Disney World Speedway]]. [[Eliseo Salazar]] finished twelfth in the race. The best result was a sixth place achieved by Salazar at [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway]]. A total of eight Mk. V chassis were constructed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Advancing Automotive Aerodynamics|url=http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=737|website=Greater Charlotte Biz|accessdate=21 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140617232044/http://www.greatercharlottebiz.com/article.asp?id=737|archivedate=17 June 2014}}</ref>
===Sport prototypes===
[[File:Porsche 250, July 2006.jpg|300px|right]] For the [[2001 Grand American Road Racing Championship season]] Crawford designed and built the Crawford SSC2K. The car was designed by [[Andy Scriven]] who joined Crawford in April 1999 after leaving [[Lola Cars|Lola]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Andy Scriven|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pub/andy-scriven/47/710/937|website=LinkedIn|accessdate=21 June 2014}}</ref> The GTP sports car was powered by a [[Judd (engine)|Judd]] [[V10]] engine. The car was built for [[Kevin Doran]]'s racing team, [[Doran Racing]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2001-2002 Crawford SSC2K|url=http://www.mulsannescorner.com/crawfordssc2k.html|website=Mulsanne's Corner}}</ref> During the two years the car was contested the car was fitted with various different front end designs. The blunt nose suffered similar issues as experienced by the [[Reynard 2KQ]], the airflow towards the rear end was disrupted. By 2002 the Crawford followed [[Lola B2K/10]]'s example with regard to the aerodynamic design. In the cars second season the car scored its first win. At [[Virginia International Raceway]] [[Andy Wallace (racing driver)|Andy Wallace]] and [[Chris Dyson]] won the 500 km race.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crawford SSC2K|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/results/Crawford/SSC2K.html|website=Racing Sports Cars|accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref>
In 2003 the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] introduced the [[Daytona Prototype]] class. Crawford was one of seven original Daytona Prototype constructors. The Crawford DP03 debuted in the [[2004 Rolex Sports Car Series season]]. Three DP03's entered pre-season testing at [[Daytona International Speedway]]. The [[Childress-Howard Motorsports|Howard-Boss Motorsports]] entry driven by [[Dale Earnhardt Jr.]], [[Tony Stewart]] and [[Andy Wallace (racing driver)|Andy Wallace]] was the fastest Crawford fourth overall.<ref>{{cite web|title=2004 Test Days at Daytona |url=http://www.grandamerican.com/Events/SessionResults.asp?SessionID=305 |website=Grand American |accessdate=20 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040630225045/http://www.grandamerican.com/Events/SessionResults.asp?SessionID=305 |archivedate=June 30, 2004 }}</ref> The team finished fifth in the [[2004 24 Hours of Daytona]]. The DP03's won three races during the season. The DP03 won eleven races between 2003 and 2008. A total of eleven DP03's were built.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crawford DP03|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/Crawford/DP03.html|website=Racing Sports Cars|accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref> After the 2008 season the second generation of Daytona Prototypes was presented. The DP08 was less successful than its predecessor. The cars best finish was an eighth place at the [[2009 24 Hours of Daytona]]. Crawford did not design a third generation Daytona Prototype.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crawford DP08|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/type/results/Crawford/DP08.html|website=Racing Sports Cars|accessdate=20 June 2014}}</ref>
===Grand-Am GT=== [[File:GT31 Eric Curran John Heinricy 2011 Road America.jpg|300px|right]] Chief designer Andy Scriven designed the Crawford GT06 chassis to compete in the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]] GT category. The GT06 project originally began after Crawford was approached to build a [[Ford Mustang GT]] for [[Blackforest Motorsports]]. The chassis was designed to accommodate a wide range of wheelbases and drivetrains for various manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Andy Scriven Discusses New Crawford Race Cars GT Programs|url=http://howardmotorsports.com/news/index.cfm?cid=2124|website=Howard Motorsports|accessdate=21 June 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140621173515/http://howardmotorsports.com/news/index.cfm?cid=2124|archivedate=21 June 2014}}</ref> The GT06 chassis made its debut in the [[2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season]]. The GT06 had a tough opening season with [[Porsche]]'s dominating the season. With [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] joining the title fight the Crawford struggled. Due to a lack of results more teams switched to the more successful marques.
===Formula racecars=== Crawford Composites first attempt at [[formula racing]] came in 2014. In conjunction with [[High Performance Group]], the constructed announced the creation of the [[Formula Lites]]. The series is planned to run a full schedule in 2015 sanctioned by [[SCCA Pro Racing]]. The Crawford FL15 has a [[carbon fiber]] monocoque chassis built according to [[Formula 3|FIA F3]] technical regulations. The car would initially be powered by a 2L [[Volkswagen]] engine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crawford Composites launches "Formula Lites" class for SCCA Pro Racing|url=http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/101716-crawford-composites-launches-formula-lites-spec-class|website=Racer|accessdate=21 June 2014|archive-date=5 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505080740/http://www.racer.com/latest-stories/item/101716-crawford-composites-launches-formula-lites-spec-class|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later it was announced the car will feature a [[Honda]] power plant. The 2.4 L [[Honda K engine#K24|Honda K24]] engine will be built by [[Honda Performance Development]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Formula Lites Selects Honda Power|url=http://www.formulalites.com/formula-lites-selects-honda-power/|website=Formula Lites|accessdate=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102123836/http://www.formulalites.com/formula-lites-selects-honda-power/|archive-date=2 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racing class was announced with the unveiling of the car at the [[North American Motorsports Expo]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SCCA Adding Developmental Formula Series|url=http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/road-racing/scca/scca-adding-developmental-formula-series/|website=National Speedsport News|accessdate=21 June 2014}}</ref> The FL15 made its debut at [[Virginia International Raceway]] with [[Dane Cameron]] behind the wheel. Cameron ran two exhibition sessions during the 2014 Ultimate Track Car Challenge.<ref>{{cite web|title=ULTIMATE TRACK CAR CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY GRASSROOTS MOTORSPORTS|url=http://www.formulalites.com/ultimate-track-car-challenge-presented-by-grassroots-motorsports/|website=Formula Lites|accessdate=19 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102124646/http://www.formulalites.com/ultimate-track-car-challenge-presented-by-grassroots-motorsports/|archive-date=2 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2016, the Crawford F4 was launched for the [[Formula 4 United States Championship]]. It features a 2000cc [[Honda K engine#K20C|Honda K20C]] naturally aspirated engine, detuned to 160 hp.
In 2018, the Ligier Crawford JS F3 will debut at Formula 3 Americas Championship. It will have a 270 hp turbocharged version of the Honda K20C engine.
==Cars==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Car !! Class !! Notes |- | 1992 || [[Mazda RX-792P]] || [[IMSA GT Championship|IMSA GT]] GTP || |- | 1998 || Riley & Scott Mk. V || [[IndyCar Series]] || Chassis construction only |- | 2000 || [[Crawford SSC2K]] || [[Le Mans Prototype|Sports Racing Prototype]] || |- | 2004 || [[Crawford DP03]] || [[Daytona Prototype]] || |- | 2006 || Crawford GT06 || [[Grand-Am]] GT || Chassis for [[Infiniti G35]], [[Chevrolet Corvette C6|Corvette Z06]], [[Ford Mustang GT]] and the [[Ferrari F430]] |- | 2008 || [[Crawford DP08]] || [[Daytona Prototype]] || |- | 2010 || [[Star Formula Mazda 'Pro' (car)|Star Pro]] || [[Star Mazda]] || |- | 2014 || Crawford FL15 || [[Formula Lites]] || |- | 2016 || [[Onroak Automotive#Models|Crawford F4-16]] || [[United States Formula 4 Championship]] || |- | 2018 || [[Onroak Automotive#Models|Ligier JS F3]] || [[Formula Regional Americas Championship|FR Americas]] || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == <!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only --> * {{Official website|http://crawfordcomposites.com/}}
[[Category:American racecar constructors]] [[Category:1998 establishments in North Carolina]] [[Category:Sports car manufacturers]]