Jerzy Jankowski

Jerzy Jankowski was a Polish motorcycle and car racer/designer.

Early life He was born in 1920 in Będzin. In 1936 he started racing racing motorcycles in the colors of the Pogoń Dąbrowa Górnicza club. Then he raced in the colors of Polonia Bytom and Legia Warsaw. In 1939 he modified the DKW RT3 motorcycle, which was described by the magazine Motorcycle and Cyclecar. During this period, Jankowski developed the first Polish racing car built from scratch, designated Rak 650. This vehicle, based on a lightweight space frame, was powered by a Triumph engine. In 1958, Jankowski won the Polish Championship title with this vehicle.

In 1959 he won the Budapest Grand Prix. In 1963 he co-initiated the Cup of Peace and Friendship, which was held until 1990, in which drivers from socialist countries competed.

After the international regulations changed from Formula Junior to Formula 3 after 1963, Jankowski began developing a car to that specification. The result was the Rak 64, with which Jankowski won the Polish championship title in 1964 and the inaugural Cup of Peace and Friendship. In 1966, he won the race at the Strahov Stadium. After 1966, Jankowski ended his racing career. The last racing car he designed was the Promot-Rak 67. The grave of Jerzy Jankowski at the Bródnowski Cemetery (right). In total, Jankowski was the author of 23 racing motorcycle and car designs and 19 patents. In the years 1950–1953 he was the Polish champion and vice-champion ten times in motorcycle racing, and was also a three-time Polish champion in auto racing.