Race driver, owner and designer of AFM, he remained involved with the sport right up to 1975, as technical director of BMW's competitions department. Von Falkenhausen joined BMW back in 1934, initially as both a racer and a designer in the motorcycle arm of the company before briefly appearing in sportscars. He had gained a degree in mechanical engineering from Munich University. Alex had started as a motorcycle racer nearly a decade before, competing in hillclimbing events. After World War Two, Alex migrated to cars and competed for many years in rally events. In 1957, Von Falkenhausen took over BMW's entire engine division and this proved Alex's greatest legacy. But he also worked as a team manager in motorcycles and generally worked as both a BMW and a technical ambassador for most of the rest of his life.

Biography last updated 7 Nov 2016