MOTOR RACING / SHAV GLICK : With Ford on Pedestal, Kranefuss to Move On

Michael Kranefuss is one of the more astute personalities in motor sports. He restored Ford to a position of prominence in the racing world after becoming director of its Special Vehicle Operations Department in 1980, and three years later became head of its worldwide motor racing program.

Ford had been out of racing for 11 years before Kranefuss went to Detroit from Germany, where he had directed racing for Ford of Europe.

Kranefuss, 55, stunned the racing world last week when he announced his retirement from the Ford Motor Co., effective Nov. 1 at the end of the racing season.

“Maybe retirement isn’t the proper word,” he said. “I’ll be back, in one place or another, but if things work out right, I’ll be doing my own thing instead of heading a corporate program.”

Kranefuss directed Ford’s return to Indy cars with the Cosworth engine last year, and the results were evident Sunday when Fords finished in the first five positions of the Marlboro 500 at Michigan International Speedway.

On the NASCAR circuit, Ford drivers Alan Kulwicki, Bill Elliott and Davey Allison finished 1-2-3 in the 1992 Winston Cup standings after Allison had started off the season by leading a 1-2-3-4 finish in the Daytona 500.

The results were similar in sports cars, drag racing and off-road racing as teams led by Jack Roush, Kenny Bernstein, Bob Glidden and Bill Stroppe scored racing victories.

“Racing teaches you timing and competitiveness,” Kranefuss has often said, “because if you ain’t ready on Sunday, they’re not going to postpone the race for you.”

A former professional racer in his native Germany, Kranefuss hopes to put together his own Indy car team--possibly with young Robby Gordon of Orange as his driver.

“Certainly, I would want Robby, but there will be others bidding for his services, too,” Kranefuss said. One will be A. J. Foyt, who reportedly has the former off-road racer under contract for 1994.

If the Indy car team doesn’t materialize, Kranefuss said his priorities might extend to a NASCAR team in Winston Cup competition or perhaps into Indy car administration.

“I think it’s about a 50% chance right now I’ll have the (Indy car) team next year.” he said. “I would like to have everything ready by November, but that depends on how quickly I can put it together--the funding, that is. Naturally, I’ll be in it with a Ford.”

Gordon has been Kranefuss’ private project since leaving Jim Venable’s Ford desert truck in 1989 to drive a Mustang for Roush in the International Motor Sports Assn. GTO series. Kranefuss also tested his protege in stock cars early in late 1990 when he entered Gordon in an ARCA race on the high banks at Atlanta. Gordon had never sat in a racing stock car, but won the pole against the ARCA veterans.

“I’d like to see Robby go Formula One some day,” Kranefuss said. “There is a need for American drivers in F1, and I think Robby has what it takes.” Kranefuss is a veteran of Formula One campaigns, having directed the Benneton Ford team to several Grand Prix victories.

Gordon has said Formula One is on his timetable, “maybe around 1995 or 1996.”

Between now and Nov. 1, Kranefuss said he will divide his time between Ford and setting up his own team.

Motor Racing Notes

POWERBOATS--Top fuel hydro drag boats capable of 235 m.p.h. will race this weekend at Castaic Lake in the Mission Foods Summer Showdown, seventh stop on the International Hot Boat Assn.’s 11-event schedule. Clinton Anderson, defending IHBA champion, will be favored in his Fatal Attraction, which ran 235.68 m.p.h. last May at Castaic. He will be challenged by Ron Braaksma in Madness and David Promnitz in Just Another Toy. Braaksma, the first driver to break the 230-m.p.h. water barrier in the season opener at Arizona’s Firebird Raceway, ran 233.48 the same day. Promnitz upset Anderson in the last race at Chowchilla. Boats in 14 classes will test today, qualify Saturday and race Sunday. Top fuel eliminations will start at 11 a.m.

WATER SKI--The 45th annual Magic Powerboats Catalina ski race will be held Sunday. More than 100 boats and skiers will leave Long Beach Harbor, adjacent to the Queen Mary, at 8 a.m. for the 62-mile race to Avalon Harbor and return. The record is 54 minutes 56 seconds, set by Mason Thompson of Newport Beach in 1984. The race will finish in front of the Travelodge Marina and Hotel in Long Beach.

STOCK CARS--Saugus Speedway will feature pro and street stocks on the oval and Figure 8 courses Saturday night. . . . Also Saturday night, Winston Racing Series sportsman cars will be headlined at Cajon Speedway, and late models and IMCA modifieds will run at Bakersfield Speedway.

MOTOCROSS--Kawasaki’s Mike La-Rocco of LaPorte, Ind., and Honda’s Doug Henry of Oxford, Conn., won the American Motorcyclist Assn.’s national outdoor races last Sunday at San Bernardino’s Glen Helen Park in 105-degree heat before an announced crowd of 15,000. LaRocco was never challenged in the final 250cc race of the season. Mike Kiedrowski of Acton, who had clinched the championship earlier, withdrew after injuring his back during a morning practice session. Guy Cooper, 31, finished fifth in the final race of his career. Henry defeated Ezra Lusk of Bainbridge, Ga., in a tense 125cc race as Damon Bradshaw of Canyon Country finished third and Jeff Emig of Highland fourth. Henry’s victory enabled him to pass Emig for the points lead, 327-316.

OFF-ROAD--Ivan Stewart will continue his quest for SCORE’s overall championship when he races his Toyota truck in the Gold Coast 300 on Saturday. Stewart has won three consecutive races, but is closely pursued by Mike Julian, leader of the 1600cc VW desert racer class, and Steve Sourapas, in the 1650cc production engine class. Stewart has 175 points, Julian 169 and Sourapas 165. The race, over a 77-mile course south of Las Vegas, will start at 7 a.m. at Jean, Nev. . . . The fifth Coors Light motocross/off-road race of the Ventura Raceway season will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. It will be the final qualifier for the Ventura County Fair championship.

SPRINT CARS--California Racing Assn. drivers will make their final appearance at Santa Maria Raceway Saturday night.

SPEEDWAY BIKES--Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock advanced to the World Finals in last week’s semifinal round in Italy. America’s other two riders, Sam Ermolenko and Ronnie Correy, will ride in their semifinal tonight in Sweden. The World Finals are Aug. 29 in Poking, Germany. . . . The defending champion U.S.A. team of Ermolenko and Correy finished second to Sweden in the World Best Pairs championship last week. . . . Harley-Davidson Night at the Orange County Fairgrounds track in Costa Mesa tonight will feature 500cc street bikes along with the regular speedway program.