Len Silver
Encyclopedia
Len Silver is a former speedway
rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets
.
in 1960 after a layoff due to injury. In 1961 he was transferred to Exeter where he skippered the Exeter Falcons
and helped them win the Provincial League Riders’ Championship in 1962. Silver made 10 successful defences of the Silver Sash Match Race Championship. In 1964 he transferred to the Hackney Hawks
as a Rider/Promoter but his riding career was cut short by serious injuries after a first bend crash at Hackney shortly after joining.
, Crewe Kings
, Sunderland Stars
and the Reading Racers
. He also spent a season as promoter of the Eastbourne Eagles
during the 1980s.
He became owner of Rye House Stadium in 2000 and returned to Rye House Speedway as team owner, promoting the Rye House Rockets
in the Premier League
and the Rye House Cobras
in the Conference League
.
He is considered to be one of speedway's most colourful and controversial characters. He was once banned by the Speedway Control Board
from ‘taking any part in a speedway meeting’ during the 1976 season after an altercation with a referee.
He has also served as the Team Manager for the England and Great Britain National teams and was the track curator at Wembley stadium for the 1981 World Final
.
Has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association
management committee.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets are a Speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They currently compete in the British Premier League.The club is promoted by Len Silver who previously ran the Hackney Hawks promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium....
.
Racing career
Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich WitchesIpswich Witches
The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm....
in 1960 after a layoff due to injury. In 1961 he was transferred to Exeter where he skippered the Exeter Falcons
Exeter Falcons
The Exeter Falcons were a speedway team which operated from 1947 until their closure in 2005 at the County Ground Stadium in Exeter. The track first operated in 1929.-Track:...
and helped them win the Provincial League Riders’ Championship in 1962. Silver made 10 successful defences of the Silver Sash Match Race Championship. In 1964 he transferred to the Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks
Hackney Hawks speedway opened in 1963 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London and operated until 1983.-Early days:Originally opened by Mike Parker, the promotion was then sold to Len Silver who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons....
as a Rider/Promoter but his riding career was cut short by serious injuries after a first bend crash at Hackney shortly after joining.
Promoting career
Silver continued as Hackney’s Promoter and Manager until the demise of the Hawks in 1983, and also promoted at Hackney’s sister track Rye House. As part of Allied Presentations, he also promoted at the Rayleigh RocketsRayleigh Rockets
The Rayleigh Rockets were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1973 from the Rayleigh Weir Stadium in Rayleigh, Essex . The Rockets closed in 1958 but re-opened again in 1960 and entered the Provincial League and then the Metropolitan League in 1964...
, Crewe Kings
Crewe Kings
The Crewe Kings were a Speedway team which operated from 1969 until their closure in 1975.-Brief history:The team first competed in 1969 promoted by Maury Littlechild for Allied Presentations who also promoted the Rayleigh Rockets, the Sunderland Stars and the Reading Racers. Littlechild died on...
, Sunderland Stars
Sunderland Stars
The Sunderland Stars were a motorcycle speedway team who raced at the Sunderland Greyhound Stadium from 1971 until 1974 in the National League when Len Silver acted as promoter on behalf of Allied Presentations Ltd....
and the Reading Racers
Reading Racers
Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history...
. He also spent a season as promoter of the Eastbourne Eagles
Eastbourne Eagles
The Eastbourne Eagles are a British speedway team based near Eastbourne, England who compete in the British Elite League. They became Elite League Champions in 2000. They were also Elite League Knockout Cup winners in 2002 and again in 2008. Speedway was initially introduced to Eastbourne in...
during the 1980s.
He became owner of Rye House Stadium in 2000 and returned to Rye House Speedway as team owner, promoting the Rye House Rockets
Rye House Rockets
The Rye House Rockets are a Speedway team based at Rye House Stadium, Hoddesdon, England. They currently compete in the British Premier League.The club is promoted by Len Silver who previously ran the Hackney Hawks promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium....
in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
and the Rye House Cobras
Rye House Cobras
The Rye House Cobras, formerly the Raiders, are a speedway team established in 2002. Based in Hoddesdon, England. The team compete in the British National League. The senior team - the Rye House Rockets - are in the Premier League. The Raiders won the Conference League Four-Team Championship in...
in the Conference League
Speedway Conference League
The Conference League was the third and lowest division of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The other leagues being the Elite League and Premier League. The League consisted of...
.
He is considered to be one of speedway's most colourful and controversial characters. He was once banned by the Speedway Control Board
The Speedway Control Board
The Speedway Control Bureau , formerly known as the Speedway Control Board, governs the sport of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom on behalf of the Auto Cycle Union . The directors are appointed by the ACU and British Speedway Promoters' Association...
from ‘taking any part in a speedway meeting’ during the 1976 season after an altercation with a referee.
He has also served as the Team Manager for the England and Great Britain National teams and was the track curator at Wembley stadium for the 1981 World Final
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
.
Has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association
British Speedway Promoters' Association
The British Speedway Promoters Association organises the domestic motorcycle speedway competitions in the UK. They are also responsible for the promotion and running of the FIM meetings staged in Britain....
management committee.