Hackney Hawks
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| Hackney Hawks | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 1983 |
| Track Address | Hackney Wick Stadium Waterden Road Hackney London |
| Country | England |
| Club Colours | Yellow Hawk on Blue and White Check |
| Honours | KO Cup 1971 |
| Website | www.hackneyhawks.co.uk |
Hackney Hawks speedway opened in 1963 at Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, London and operated until 1983. Originally opened by Mike Parker, the promotion was then sold to Len Silver who was the clubs promoter for the next twenty seasons.
The riders and track staff always marched onto the track to the sound of the theme tune of the film The Magnificent Seven and that tune inspires more memories for Hackney Hawks fans than anything else.
The track produced superb racing and was always entertaining. In 1971 Hackney won their only major honour when the they beat Cradley Heath to win the Knockout Cup.
Sadly in June 1979, another popular Hawk, Vic Harding, was killed whilst racing for the team. A Vic Harding Memorial Trophy meeting was held in his memory every season after his death, and was in fact the final meeting that Len Silver ran at Waterden Road in 1983.
In 1984 the promotion was sold and the promotion from Crayford moved their Kestrels team into the stadium and became known as the Hackney Kestrels.
[edit] All Time Greats
Len Silver (Now promoter at Rye House Rockets)
- Colin Pratt (Now promoter at Coventry Bees)
Garry Middleton
- Barry Thomas
Bo Petersen
- Finn Thomsen
