Len Silver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
London, England
 Silver in 1976 | |
| Born | 2 February 1932 London, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 13 October 2024 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1953-1957, 1960-1962 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1961-1964 | Exeter Falcons |
| 1964 | Hackney Hawks |
| Individual honours | |
| 1962 | Provincial League Riders' Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1962 | Provincial League KO Cup Winner |
Leonard George Silver (2 February 1932 – 13 October 2024) was an English motorcycle speedway rider and promoter. He has also served as the Team Manager for the England and Great Britain national speedway team during two separate spells in 1976 and 1981.
Silver began racing for Ipswich Witches during the 1953 Speedway Southern League season.[1] During his maiden season he was described as a star discovery.[2]
Silver continued to ride for the Witches until he stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the club in 1960 after a layoff due to injury. In 1961, he was transferred to Exeter, where he skippered the Exeter Falcons.[3] In 1962, he won the Provincial League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 22 September, in front of 20,000 spectators.[4]
Silver made ten successful defences of the Silver Sash Match Race Championship. In 1964, he transferred to the Hackney Hawks[5] as a rider/promoter (the latter with Mike Parker) but his riding career was cut short by serious injuries after a first bend crash at Hackney shortly after joining.[6]
