Edward Jancarz

Edward 'Ed' Jancarz (born August 20, 1946 in Gorzów Wlkp., Poland - died January 11, 1992) was an international speedway rider.

Jancarz rode in the UK for the Wimbledon Dons between 1977–1982 winning the Internationale at Wimbledon in his first season, and in Poland for Stal Gorzów. He participated in ten Speedway World Championship finals, his highest placing being in his first final when he finished on the rostrum in third place after a run-off with Russian rider Gennady Kurilenko. He was also a member of the Polish World Team Cup winning team of 1969. He won the prestigious Embassy Internationale, at Wimbledon in 1977. After his riding career ended he was a speedway coach. He was trainer in Stal Gorzów, KKŻ Krosno and Polish national team.

On January 11, 1992 Jancarz was fatally stabbed by his second wife, Katarzyna, during a domestic dispute. Since then the Edward Jancarz Memorial has been a semi-annual meeting at the speedway that carries his name, the Edward Jancarz Stadium in Gorzów Wielkopolski. To date, 2010 World Champion Tomasz Gollob is the only Polish rider to win the memorial, having done so in 1998 and 1999

Edward Jancarz was the first speedway rider in the World to have a monument dedicated to them. The Monument of Edward Jancarz was built in 2005 and is in the city centre of Gorzów Wielkopolski.

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