MAX CRAWFORD – CO-FOUNDER / PRESIDENT

Hometown: Born in New Zealand, resides in Denver, NC  

Max Crawford is President of Crawford & Crawford Composites, Inc, a North Carolina company located in Denver, a township in close proximity to Charlotte. Crawford Composites, Inc. primary focus is the utilization of aerospace technology and materials to manufacture components for the auto racing industry.

Max Crawford’s career in the auto industry began in 1966 in his homeland of New Zealand as an apprenticed mechanic. During the five year apprenticeship and his subsequent ownership and operation with his wife Janice, of Max Crawford Motors, Ltd., Max built and raced a variety of cars in the New Zealand Open Saloon Car Association racing series.  This period closed when Max accepted an offer in late 1979 to join Dick Barbour Racing, a San Francisco based team competing with Porsche 935’s in the American IMSA series and the Group C World Endurance Championship. 

Despite the clinching of the 1980 IMSA championship Dick Barbour Racing was disbanded and Max accepted a position as Crew Chief with John Fitzpatrick Racing in San Diego. From 1981 until 1985 John Fitzpatrick Racing successfully campaigned a Porsche multiple car team in IMSA in America, and the worldwide Group C, with drivers in addition to Fitzpatrick such as David Hobbs, Derek Warrick, Derek Bell, gaining multiple victories and top five finishes. During these years Max was given the opportunity to construct the Porsche K-4 which had an outstanding record in 1982 and 1983 including back to back victories at Riverside. With the advent and purchase of the factory built Porsche 962’s, Max began the development and application of carbon fiber and composite technology to gain a necessary advantage. By combining this technology and aerodynamic packaging significant gains brought results such as the first Porsche Can-am victory in ten years at Elkarht Lake, Group C victory at Brands Hatch and third place at Le Mans in 1984.

With the closing of John Fitzpatrick Racing, Max moved to North Carolina in 1987 as Team Manager of Bruce Jenner Racing and brought Porsche their first Trans-am win. At the close of the season Max elected to pursue his development of the composite technology and his interest in aerodynamics beginning a sole proprietorship which developed into the incorporation of Crawford & Crawford Composites, Inc., in 1996.

In the last eleven years Max has been actively involved in wind tunnel model development projects, among the more recent the Ford Taurus Winston Cup program. In 1989 he developed the composite bodywork for the GTO Mazda and in 1990 constructed the first American made fully composite car for Mazda of America, the RX7-92P GTP car. Crawford Composites continued the construction of autoclaved composite chassis, lately completing eight chassis for the Riley & Scott IRL program in 1998. The company supplies parts and services to competitors in NASCAR (Winston CUP, Busch, & Craftsman Truck Series), CART, IRL, Formula Atlantic, USRRC, Professional Sports Car (WSC, GT1, GT2, GT3), NHRA, Champ car and SCCA.

Max resumed an active association with sports car racing in 1995 when he returned as Crew Chief for selected races, this time for long time customer, Dyson Racing Team.  Max has enjoyed several victories with the team, the highlights being the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner in 1997 and 1999.

Max lives in Denver, NC with his wife Janice Crawford and two daughters, Trudie and Catherine. Janice is co owner and actively participates in the operation of Crawford & Crawford Composites, Inc.  Trudie, on completion of her post-graduate studies, is now  employed by Crawford Composites and Catherine is an aerodynamicist for Jordan Grand Prix.

Career Highlights:

• November 2000, sold Crawford chassis 001 to Doran-Lista Racing.
• 1998, Crawford Race Cars, LLC. established.
• 1996, Max Crawford Composites becomes Crawford and Crawford Composites, Inc.
• 1995-2000, Crawford served as crew chief in selected races for longtime customer Dyson Racing Team, and won the Rolex 24 of Daytona in 1997 and 1999.
• From 1990-1993, Crawford Composites became the first private American company to produce a fully composite chassis, the works Mazda RX7-92P.
• 1997, handled wind tunnel model construction of NASCAR Ford Taurus.
• 1994-1997, handled wind tunnel model construction of NASCAR Ford Thunderbird.
• 1990, constructed wind tunnel model of Mazda RX7-92P.
• In 1990, began wind tunnel model construction program.
• 1989-2000, composite and aerodynamic packaging supplier for Dyson Racing.
• The composite supplier for the Mazda IMSO GTO effort in 1989.
• 1988, established Max Crawford Composites to focus on structural autoclaved composite laminates, chassis and wings, wind tunnel development projects, design, engineering and racecar aerodynamics.
• Team Manager for Porsche Trans-Am team with driver Elliott Forbes-Robinson.
• In 1983, he established the in-house composite development program for John Fitzpatrick Racing.
• Re-engineered the Porsche K-4 in 1982 for John Fitzpatrick Racing.
• From 1981-1985, Crawford was crew chief on the highly successful John Fitzpatrick Racing team in IMSA and Group C with Porsche 935s, 956s and 962s.
• 1980, mechanic for Dick Barbour Racing (1980 IMSA champions).
• From 1972-1979, owner of Max Crawford Motors, Ltd.
• From 1965-1979, a young Max Crawford built and drove a variety of cars in hill climbs, as well as the New Zealand Open Saloon Car Championship and the Shellsport Championship.