Offered from The Forshaw Speedway Collection, c.1975 Jawa-ERM 500cc DOHC Speedway Racing Motorcycle

Frame no. 8073 (prefixed and suffixed with '0' at 90 degrees to the frame number) Engine no. 12826

• Purchased from Henny Kroeze, the ten times Dutch Speedway Champion
• Appears to be very original and unrestored
• An excellent example of the independent drive to produce four valve technology

The ERM started with the Swedish rider Jan Johansson in 1973. He made a double overhead camshaft head for a 2 valve Jawa engine later teaming up with Johany Lundberger to provide an engine for Christen Lofqvist in his quest for the World Final Championship. The engine became the LLM (Lundberger, Lofqvist Motors). To develop the engine further Lundberger approached the renowned Ehar Endfors, renowned for his motocross engines as well as being associated with Hedlund. Endfors worked his magic on the engine which now became the ERM (Endfors Racing Motors).

Lofqvist rode a storming race in the opening heat of the 1974 World Final breaking both the track record and beating world favourite Ivan Mauger. But in the final he reverted to his 2 valve Jawa finishing in ninth place, Anders Michanek winning the title from Ivan Mauger by four points. Despite the evident potential of the ERM the engine did not become popular, with others now entering the field. The conversion designed by Neil Street was an immediate success ridden by world class rider Phil Crump but when in 1975 the Weslake arrived on the scene it overshadowed all the remarkable and innovative conversion technology. Ivan Mauger certainly had an ERM motor in a Jawa frame when Jawa were slow to adopt four valve technology.

Doug Wyer used this machine in the 1975/6 English Lions Ashes in Australia with impressive results breaking the lap record at the intimidating Claremont track. He was very impressed with the engine and so was Scott Autry when he tried out the machine in the same series. However, Jawa was compelled to follow the four valve route and the world moved on.

Purchased by Roger from Henny Kroeze, the ten times Dutch speedway champion, c.1993, this Jawa ERM has Henny's name on the engine (below the ERM emblem) and is complete with various Dutch sponsors stickers. The machine appears to be a very original, unrestored an excellent example of the independent drive to produce four valve technology, a brief but exciting period in speedway history. Accompanying a letter from Henny Kroeze are photographs, as well as copies of articles describing the ERM. The mechanical condition is not known and therefore we recommend re-commissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent.
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