Rye House Rockets
Encyclopedia
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
.
team have been racing at the Rye House Stadium
next to the River Lea since 1974. Len Silver
, promoter of the Rayleigh Rockets
, was forced to find a new home for his team after the Rockets original home at the Rayleigh Weir Stadium was sold and redeveloped.
The Rye House track in Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire had been around since the 1934 and was regularly used by the big London clubs like the West Ham Hammers
to scout for future riders. In the 1930s and 1940s young riders regularly made the trip from Liverpool Street station
with their bikes to the Rye House railway station
which is a 2 minute walk from the stadium. Regular training schools and the occasional season of league racing kept the track in use until Len Silver
brought in his Rockets team after they were made homeless in 1974.
Midway through the 1984 season Silver sold the Rockets to Ronnie Russell (who later became the promoter of rivals – the Arena Essex Hammers) so he could concentrate on his new Skiing Holiday business, Silver Ski. Ronnie ran the Rockets alongside a number of other co-promoters over the years. In 1993 Ronnie shut the doors on the Rockets and the club closed down.
During the winter of 1998–99 a group of Rockets fans placed an advert in the Speedway Star magazine for a meeting to see if there was enough interest in trying to resurrect the team. Over a hundred former fans attended and many made contributions to the funds to help bring back the Rockets. With the race track at Rye House being tarmac'd over for Stock Car use, there wasn't a chance of the team returning to their spiritual home. In the end a former Rocket, Dingle Brown, came to the rescue. Dingle was the promoter of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers
, he offered a track share; with the Rockets racing after the Fen Tigers meetings. The Rockets finally got back on track for the 1999 season but this time riding in the Conference League
. During the initial stages of getting the Rockets back up and running, Steve Ribbons, John Stoneman and Dave Entwistle (the men behind the project), contacted former promoter Len Silver
to see if he could offer any advice. Silver offered to sponsor the team which became the Rye House 'Silver Ski' Rockets.
After a successful year in 1999, in terms of getting the club back off the ground, the following season was now the main concern. With Silver now interested in returning to Speedway in some capacity; his help was asked for again with trying to get the team back at Hoddesdon. A deal with the current owners was struck and the Rockets headed home in 2000.
Due to the original track being covered in tarmac
, the club was forced to lay a temporary dirt track before races on a Sunday/Monday and straight after the meeting had finished; the track would have to be completely removed. With the assistance of Silver and his knowledge of track preparation this worked for a time, though it was back breaking work for a team of dedicated volunteers. The club announced in July 2000 that the 'new' Promoter Len Silver had secured the lease on the Stadium and that he had given notice to the stock cars to quit the track ready for its redevelopment to a dirt surface.
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...
team based at Rye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Rye House near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated adjacent to the River Lea Navigation.-The stadium:...
, Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon
Hoddesdon is a town in the English county of Hertfordshire, situated in the Lea Valley. The town grew up as a coaching stop on the route between Cambridge and London. It is located southeast of Hertford, north of Waltham Cross and southwest of Bishop's Stortford. At its height during the 18th...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They currently compete in the British 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...
.
The club is promoted by Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
who previously ran 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....
promotion at Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium
Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, in the London Borough of Hackney, was opened in 1932 and was mainly used for greyhound racing and speedway.In 1994, a £12M stand and restaurant was built and the stadium was renamed the London Stadium, Hackney...
.
Club history
The Rye House Rockets SpeedwayMotorcycle 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...
team have been racing at the Rye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium
Rye House Stadium is a greyhound racing and speedway venue in Rye House near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. It is situated adjacent to the River Lea Navigation.-The stadium:...
next to the River Lea since 1974. Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
, promoter of the Rayleigh Rockets
Rayleigh 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...
, was forced to find a new home for his team after the Rockets original home at the Rayleigh Weir Stadium was sold and redeveloped.
The Rye House track in Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire had been around since the 1934 and was regularly used by the big London clubs like the West Ham Hammers
West Ham Hammers
The West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins....
to scout for future riders. In the 1930s and 1940s young riders regularly made the trip from Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
with their bikes to the Rye House railway station
Rye House railway station
Rye House railway station is in the Rye House area of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, England. It is on the Hertford East branch of the West Anglia Main Line, and train services are provided by National Express East Anglia.-Services:...
which is a 2 minute walk from the stadium. Regular training schools and the occasional season of league racing kept the track in use until Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
brought in his Rockets team after they were made homeless in 1974.
Midway through the 1984 season Silver sold the Rockets to Ronnie Russell (who later became the promoter of rivals – the Arena Essex Hammers) so he could concentrate on his new Skiing Holiday business, Silver Ski. Ronnie ran the Rockets alongside a number of other co-promoters over the years. In 1993 Ronnie shut the doors on the Rockets and the club closed down.
During the winter of 1998–99 a group of Rockets fans placed an advert in the Speedway Star magazine for a meeting to see if there was enough interest in trying to resurrect the team. Over a hundred former fans attended and many made contributions to the funds to help bring back the Rockets. With the race track at Rye House being tarmac'd over for Stock Car use, there wasn't a chance of the team returning to their spiritual home. In the end a former Rocket, Dingle Brown, came to the rescue. Dingle was the promoter of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers
Mildenhall Fen Tigers
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, currently riding in the National League.The club moved up to the Premier League in 2006 after twelve seasons in the Conference League when new promoter Mick Horton took over. In 2007 Stadium owner Carl Harris formed 'Fen Tigers Limited' with...
, he offered a track share; with the Rockets racing after the Fen Tigers meetings. The Rockets finally got back on track for the 1999 season but this time riding 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...
. During the initial stages of getting the Rockets back up and running, Steve Ribbons, John Stoneman and Dave Entwistle (the men behind the project), contacted former promoter Len Silver
Len Silver
Len Silver is a former speedway rider and is currently promoter of the Rye House Rockets.-Racing career:Silver stopped racing in 1957 but returned to the Ipswich Witches in 1960 after a layoff due to injury...
to see if he could offer any advice. Silver offered to sponsor the team which became the Rye House 'Silver Ski' Rockets.
After a successful year in 1999, in terms of getting the club back off the ground, the following season was now the main concern. With Silver now interested in returning to Speedway in some capacity; his help was asked for again with trying to get the team back at Hoddesdon. A deal with the current owners was struck and the Rockets headed home in 2000.
Due to the original track being covered in tarmac
Tarmac
Tarmac is a type of road surface. Tarmac refers to a material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901...
, the club was forced to lay a temporary dirt track before races on a Sunday/Monday and straight after the meeting had finished; the track would have to be completely removed. With the assistance of Silver and his knowledge of track preparation this worked for a time, though it was back breaking work for a team of dedicated volunteers. The club announced in July 2000 that the 'new' Promoter Len Silver had secured the lease on the Stadium and that he had given notice to the stock cars to quit the track ready for its redevelopment to a dirt surface.
Club assets
- Andrew Aldridge (Bournemouth)
- Tommy Allen (Rye House)
- Danny Betson (retired)
- Luke Bowen (Rye House)
- Steve Boxall (Newcastle & Belle Vue)
- Barry Burchatt (retired)
- Harland Cook (unattached)
- Gary Cottham (Mildenhall)
- Jamie Courtney (Rye House)
- Stefan Ekberg (retired)
- Daniel Halsey (Rye House)
- David Mason (Mildenhall)
- Lee Strudwick (Rye House)
- Linus Sundström (Rye House)
- Chris Neath (Rye House))
Rider of the year
- 2010:
Sweden Linus SundstromLinus SundströmLinus Sundström is a Swedish speedway rider who rides for Rye House Rockets in the English Premier league and the Piraterna Motala team in the Swedish Premier League.... - 2009:
England Luke BowenLuke BowenLuke Alex Bowen is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, riding with the Rye House Rockets in the Premier League.... - 2008: England Luke BowenLuke BowenLuke Alex Bowen is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, riding with the Rye House Rockets in the Premier League....
- 2007: England Tai WoffindenTai WoffindenTai Woffinden is a speedway rider currently riding for the Wolverhampton Wolves in the British Elite League, and is the son of former speedway rider Rob Woffinden.- Career :...
- 2006: England Steve BoxallSteve BoxallSteven Shane Boxall is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, riding with the Belle Vue Aces in the Elite League.Steve won the Conference League Riders Championship in 2005...
- 2005: England Stuart RobsonStuart Robson (speedway rider)Stuart Anthony Robson is a British motorcycle speedway rider. Brother Scott, also rode.Stuart made his British racing debut in 1993 riding for the Newcastle Diamonds and in 32 matches he posted an average of 4.35...
- 2004: England Tommy AllenTommy Allen (speedway rider)Thomas David Allen is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, riding with the Somerset Rebels in the Premier League....
- 2003: England Scott Robson
- 2002: England David Mason