IT is with deep sadness that British Speedway reports the passing of legendary former promoter, rider and manager Len Silver.
Len, who was 92, died at home in the early hours of Sunday morning after a lifetime’s involvement in the sport.
His racing career was mainly spent with Ipswich and Exeter, before he retired due to injury following a crash at Hackney in 1964, his biggest victory having come in the 1962 Provincial League Riders’ Championship – the equivalent of the modern day CLRC.
He then embarked on a lengthy and hugely successful promoting career which included two decades at Hackney as well as involvement in several associated clubs.
The 1970s saw him complete the first of two stints as Great Britain/England manager in a golden era of success in the World Team Cup competition
Len was also a skilled track curator and prepared the surface for the last ever World Final to take place at Wembley in 1981, which produced one of the sport’s most memorable meetings.
He subsequently bought Rye House Stadium and revived the Rockets in 1999, winning the Premier League (now Championship) title in both 2005 and 2007.
In 2013, he launched the Kent Kings at Central Park Stadium, continuing as promoter of the club through to his retirement at the end of the 2021 season.
Len, who became the second inductee to British Speedway’s Hall of Fame in 2021, continued to attend the sport regularly following the successful revival of Oxford in 2022.
Fittingly he was in attendance at Cowley last Saturday for the first leg of the Championship Grand Final between the Cheetahs and Poole.
All at British Speedway wish to send our sincere condolences to Len’s family and friends, and place on record our gratitude for his outstanding service to the sport.
SCB NEWS HEADLINES
LEN SILVER 1932 – 2024
Tuesday October 15, 2024
IT is with deep sadness that British Speedway reports the passing of legendary former promoter, rider and manager Len Silver. Read the full story...
2025 SCB SEMINARS
Friday October 11, 2024
The Speedway Control Bureau will be hosting their SCB Officials Seminars prior to the 2025 Season at the following venue's on the arranged dates - Read the full story...
SCB STATEMENT: EMIL SAYFUTDINOV
Tuesday September 10, 2024
On Tuesday 10th September the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) recieved an injury/sick note for Ipswich Rider Emil Sayfutdinov who despite representing his Polish Club on Sunday 8th September was unable to travel to the UK due to dehydration and exhaustion following the event in Poland. Read the full story...
RON RECEIVES LONG SERVICE AWARD
Wednesday September 04, 2024
At Leicester Speedway on Saturday afternoon former member of the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) Technical Team Ron Jones was in attendance and he was presented with a gift on behalf of the SCB from the SCB Chairman Jim Lawrence for his services to the Technical Team for over 20 years. Read the full story...
SCB STATEMENT: PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFFS
Saturday August 31, 2024
DUE to the amount of Premiership fixtures being postponed this season, the cut-off date for the conclusion of their league fixtures has been put back one week until September 8. Read the full story...
SCB STATEMENT: PIOTR PAWLICKI
Tuesday August 27, 2024
On Wednesday 21st August the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) were informed by the Birmingham Promotion that Piotr Pawlicki had written to the club to explain that he would not be returning to the UK to represent Birmingham in their final two fixtures taking place on the 26th and 29th August due to suffering from fatigue, and from effects of injuries sustained in both Poland and Sweden over the last month. Read the full story...
SCB STATEMENT: POOLE v WORKINGTON
Thursday August 22, 2024
At the Poole v Workington BSN fixture on Wednesday 21st August 2024 the Anti - Doping Team of Racoo were in attendance, where two riders from each team were randomly selected for testing. Read the full story...