TheScotsman Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 37 minutes ago, customhouseregular said: I had a photo of Len taken sometime between 1960 and 1964, at Rye House and wearing aRed Devils body colour. When I mentioned this to Len at Rayleigh c.1967 he said he had never ridden at Rye. Interesting - or just forgetful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 9 minutes ago, TheScotsman said: Interesting - or just forgetful. Probably only rode there once and forgot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Bird Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 58 minutes ago, customhouseregular said: I had a photo of Len taken sometime between 1960 and 1964, at Rye House and wearing aRed Devils body colour. When I mentioned this to Len at Rayleigh c.1967 he said he had never ridden at Rye. Rode there 3 times in 1960. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnThomsen Posted October 31, 2021 Report Share Posted October 31, 2021 Something strange has happened here.... I spoke to Len on Tuesday and it was all see you next year..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Stewart Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 16 hours ago, TheScotsman said: He'll be 90 in February apparently. Remember watching him riding at Edinburgh in the very early sixties. He might have won the Scottish Open I think. (But my memory is pretty poor nowadays.) He might have worn white boots too! White boots - yes. Scottish Open - no. On his only Scottish Open appearance he scored 2, October 1963. Scores at Meadowbank were 6,7,12,9,13,2,10, between 1961 and 1964. He scored 9 in the PL Final of the World Championship in 1963, that was impressive in a very strong field. Of course he won the Provincial Riders Championship at Belle Vue in 1962, passing Wayne Briggs in the final. He scored 2 maximums at Exeter against Edinburgh. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 14 hours ago, FinnThomsen said: Something strange has happened here.... I spoke to Len on Tuesday and it was all see you next year..... What’s strange but not unusual is no statement from Len Silver denying this or explaining what has happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianbuck Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 My understanding is that Len promoted at Kent on behalf of the then stadium owner Roger Cearnes (don't think I've spelled that right!). Therefore, no rent would have been necessary. No doubt ARC are now wanting the speedway promotion to pay rent - perhaps what they are asking is excessive - only the two parties concerned will know that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 23 minutes ago, brianbuck said: My understanding is that Len promoted at Kent on behalf of the then stadium owner Roger Cearnes (don't think I've spelled that right!). Therefore, no rent would have been necessary. No doubt ARC are now wanting the speedway promotion to pay rent - perhaps what they are asking is excessive - only the two parties concerned will know that. Nail on the head i reckon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGould Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 18 minutes ago, brianbuck said: My understanding is that Len promoted at Kent on behalf of the then stadium owner Roger Cearnes (don't think I've spelled that right!). Therefore, no rent would have been necessary. No doubt ARC are now wanting the speedway promotion to pay rent - perhaps what they are asking is excessive - only the two parties concerned will know that. That sounds very plausible Brian. I've read in a few places too from Kent supporters that Kent's Crowds (other than v Eastbourne local derbies) were not as high as expected / budgeted for and similar to NDL levels in the past few seasons. With Nicholls and Batchelor probably high earners it would be logical to assume that Len; faced with a substantial rent increase has done his sums and they don't look at all good and if his biggest crowds are against a side not running in 2022 (based on their statement last Friday); is it possible that this has changed the picture to a pretty gloomy one and forced Len's hand? The question a few have asked, would Len transfer his License to Arlington and run a team there with the new Eastbourne management. Especially if both sides have pretty much been forced out by much lower than budgeted crowds in the 2021 season and could combine their hard core support in to something that would be viable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 Official Kent statement at 12 noon today!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 18 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: Official Kent statement at 12 noon today!! Len Silver retiring from speedway but will give every help and assistance to any new younger promoter at Central Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of Shaleman Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 Well there it is. Len is retiring..can't blame him at his age. http://www.kent-speedway.com/news.php?extend.1799 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Eck Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 4 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: Len Silver retiring from speedway but will give every help and assistance to any new younger promoter at Central Park. That’s not what the article says. He said he was retiring from Kent Speedway, not all of speedway. My guess is he has phrased this carefully to allow him to reappear somewhere else. He’s only 89 after all. Far too young to retire 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 Best wishes for aHappy Retirement,he certainly has done his bit for the Sport and knew the game inside out.Decent rider in his day too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 1 minute ago, Wee Eck said: That’s not what the article says. He said he was retiring from Kent Speedway, not all of speedway. My guess is he has phrased this carefully to allow him to reappear somewhere else. He’s only 89 after all. Far too young to retire The headline clearly says "Silver retiring from the sport"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noaksey Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 Unable to negotiate rent with the new owners... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 5 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Best wishes for aHappy Retirement,he certainly has done his bit for the Sport and knew the game inside out.Decent rider in his day too. Provincial League Riders Champion. Not a bad standard for the era. Hackney and Rye House probably wouldn’t have survived as long as they did without him as promoter and he put far more into the sport in terms of both money and effort than he ever took out. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyd Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 7 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: The headline clearly says "Silver retiring from the sport"! I agree BUT if you read the statement he says he is retiring from all activities with Kent speedway. If he is retiring fair play to him he has earnt it but it is in his blood and I for one cannot see him totally turning away from the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper11 Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 50 minutes ago, HGould said: That sounds very plausible Brian. I've read in a few places too from Kent supporters that Kent's Crowds (other than v Eastbourne local derbies) were not as high as expected / budgeted for and similar to NDL levels in the past few seasons. With Nicholls and Batchelor probably high earners it would be logical to assume that Len; faced with a substantial rent increase has done his sums and they don't look at all good and if his biggest crowds are against a side not running in 2022 (based on their statement last Friday); is it possible that this has changed the picture to a pretty gloomy one and forced Len's hand? The question a few have asked, would Len transfer his License to Arlington and run a team there with the new Eastbourne management. Especially if both sides have pretty much been forced out by much lower than budgeted crowds in the 2021 season and could combine their hard core support in to something that would be viable. Not sure where you have read the crowd levels were not as high as expected? The support this season at Kent has been really good. In fact recently Len publicly stated Kent were on course to make a profit for the 8th year running. Also as a thank you to the supporters he gave 1/3 off the entrance fee for the last home match. It is obvious that agreement with the new owners not just about rent but I suspect other things as well cannot be reached. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimsboy Posted November 1, 2021 Report Share Posted November 1, 2021 1 hour ago, HGould said: That sounds very plausible Brian. I've read in a few places too from Kent supporters that Kent's Crowds (other than v Eastbourne local derbies) were not as high as expected / budgeted for and similar to NDL levels in the past few seasons. With Nicholls and Batchelor probably high earners it would be logical to assume that Len; faced with a substantial rent increase has done his sums and they don't look at all good and if his biggest crowds are against a side not running in 2022 (based on their statement last Friday); is it possible that this has changed the picture to a pretty gloomy one and forced Len's hand? The question a few have asked, would Len transfer his License to Arlington and run a team there with the new Eastbourne management. Especially if both sides have pretty much been forced out by much lower than budgeted crowds in the 2021 season and could combine their hard core support in to something that would be viable. Crowds were good at Eastbourne 2021 for Championship level. Do not believe all Ian / Carol Jordan had been advertising. What was not was the man running it and now appears to have gone into hiding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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