kids encyclopedia robot

Andrzej Pogorzelski facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Andrzej Pogorzelski
Andrzej Pogorzelski.jpg
Born (1938-10-12)12 October 1938
Leszno, Poland
Died 16 October 2020(2020-10-16) (aged 82)
Nickname Puzon
Nationality  Poland
Current club information
Career status Retired (1977)
Career history
Poland
1956, 1973-1976 Unia Leszno
1957-1961 Start Gniezno
1962-1972 Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski
Individual honours
1966 Continental Champion
1966 Golden Helmet
Team honours
1965, 1966, 1969 World Team Cup Winner
1969 Polish League Champion

Andrzej Pogorzelski (born October 12, 1938 – died October 16, 2020) was a famous Polish motorcycle speedway rider and coach. Speedway is an exciting sport where riders race motorcycles with no brakes around an oval track. Andrzej was known for his speed and skill on the track.

Andrzej Pogorzelski: A Speedway Champion

Andrzej Pogorzelski started his amazing speedway journey in 1956. He rode for several Polish clubs during his career. He became a true legend in the sport.

Riding for Polish Clubs

Andrzej began his career with Unia Leszno. He rode for them in 1956 and again from 1973 to 1976. With Unia Leszno, he helped his team win two bronze medals. These were in the Team Speedway Polish Championship in 1975 and 1976.

From 1957 to 1961, he rode for Start Gniezno. Then, in 1962, he joined Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski. This was a very successful move for him. While at Stal, he won many medals.

Success with Stal Gorzów Wielkopolski

Andrzej won one gold medal in the Team Speedway Polish Championship in 1969. He also earned five silver medals with Stal. These silver medals were in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1971. He was a key player in his team's success.

He even set track records at the Gorzów Wielkopolski stadium. This showed how fast and talented he was.

Individual Achievements in Poland

Andrzej also had great success on his own. He won three bronze medals in the Polish Individual Speedway Championship. These were in 1964, 1965, and 1966.

He also won the prestigious Golden Helmet tournament in 1966. He finished second in this race three other times. These were in 1964, 1965, and 1969. He also placed third in the Silver Helmet tournament in 1962.

Winning on the World Stage

Andrzej Pogorzelski was a big star not just in Poland, but also internationally. He was a finalist six times in the Speedway World Team Cup. This is a major international competition.

World Team Cup Victories

With the Polish National Team, Andrzej won three gold medals! These victories came in 1965, 1966, and 1969. He also helped his team win a silver medal in 1967. These wins showed Poland's strength in speedway.

Individual World Championship Appearances

Andrzej also competed in the Speedway World Championship finals. He reached the finals four times. He finished 9th in 1965, 12th in 1966, 9th in 1967, and 9th again in 1969. Competing at this level against the best riders in the world was a huge achievement.

Life After Racing

Andrzej Pogorzelski retired from racing in 1977. After his racing career, he continued to be involved in speedway. He competed in special tournaments for retired riders. He also became a successful speedway coach. He helped new riders learn the sport.

Andrzej Pogorzelski passed away on October 16, 2020, at the age of 82.

Honoring a Legend

Andrzej Pogorzelski is remembered as a great speedway rider. A special plaque was put up at the Edward Jancarz Stadium in Gorzów Wielkopolski. This plaque honors his contributions to the sport. It was unveiled on December 18, 2015.

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

World Team Cup

  • 1963 - Austria Vienna, Stadion Wien - 4th place
  • 1964 - West Germany Abensberg, Abensberg Speedwaystadion - 4th place
  • 1965 - West Germany Kempten - Winner
  • 1966 - Poland Wrocław, Olympic Stadium - Winner
  • 1967 - Sweden Malmö, Malmö Stadion - 2nd place
  • 1969 - Poland Rybnik, Rybnik Municipal Stadium - Winner
kids search engine
Andrzej Pogorzelski Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.