EMC Motorcycles

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = EMC Motorcycles
company_
fate = Wound up
successor =
foundation = 1946
defunct = 1977
location = Isleworth UK
industry = manufacturing and engineering
key_people = Dr. Joseph Ehrlich
products = motorcycles
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

EMC Motorcycles or the 'Ehlrich Motor Co' was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Based in Isleworth, the business was founded by Joseph Ehrlich who emigrated to Britain from Austria in the 1930s.cite web|url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/brit_e.html|title=EMC Motorcycles|accessdate=2008-07-05]

A specialist engine tuner, Joe Ehrlich made unique two-stroke motorcycles. EMC stopped mass production in 1952 but Ehrlich used his knowledge of German technology to re-engineer the DKW Rennsporte Ladempumpe production racers, which he developed as one-off EMC racing bikes and won several events over the next 25 years.cite web|url=http://www.iwvmcc.co.uk/news.php?active_page=&news_id=135|title=Racing Split Single Two Stroke Motorcycles in Post War England|last=Hogan|first=Peter|date=2002-11-30|accessdate=2008-07-05] The EMC 125cc racer was considered among the fastest of its size in the early 1960s. Ehrlich left in 1967 and the company was wound up in 1977.

History

Dr. Joseph Ehrlich was a wealthy Austrian and keen motorcycle enthusiast who became the acknowledged authority on two-stroke single racing bikes. Ehrlich moved to the UK and set up EMC after World War II with a factory at Isleworth. Production focussed on a 350cc split single motorcycle based on German engineering using two cylinders and pistons with a common combustion chamber. One cylinder housed the exhaust ports and the other the transfer ports. [cite web|url=http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/OthersDtoH/pages/EMC-350-48.htm|title=EMC 350cc|accessdate=2008-07-05] EMC also imported Puch 125cc split single, four-speed engines from Austria as there was nothing to compete in the UK market at the time. Dr Ehrlich worked throughout his life to improve engine performance. In 1948 he built a three-cylinder motorcycle engine that was banned from racing circuits as 'too powerful'.cite web|url=http://www.docscipark.com.au/ee_tech.html|title=History of EE technology|accessdate=2008-07-05] EMC racing motorcycles (and cars) were used by some of the leading riders, including Mike Hailwood who rode an EMC to win third place in the 1961 world series. [cite web|url=http://www.f3history.co.uk/Manufacturers/Ehrlich/ehrlich.htm|title=Ehrlich EMC|accessdate=2008-07-05] and won the 1962 Saar Grand Prix. [cite web|url=http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=751&fArticleId=2814075|title=Works EMC bikes on the auction block|accessdate=2008-07-05] From 1981, 250cc EMC motorcycles won 4 junior TTs at the Isle of Man and an EMC was the first 250cc motorcycle to break the 110 mph lap record. [cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Machine-Analysis.aspx|title=TT Race analysis|accessdate=2008-07-05] Ehrlich went on to develop Formula 3 racing cars and although he retired from EMC in 1967 his interest in racing motorcycles continued and he produced one-off 250cc Rotax engined bikes in the 1980s and his last competitive motorcycle in 1995 - when he was in his 80's. ["cite book | last = Brown | first = Roland | title = Classic Motorcycles | publisher = Anness Publishing | date = 2002 | pages = pp. 137 | isbn = 1-84038-433-6 ]

Ehrlich's experience with early two-stroke designs led to work on the 'Environmental Engine' that had variable compression and variable capacity to improve emission and fuel consumption. Potentially the future of engine technology, Josef Ehrlich died in September 2003 aged 89 without seeing his engine designs developed commercially.

Models

References

External links

* [http://www.ozebook.com/az/emc.htm EMC Image Gallery]