Leslie Archer, best known as Les Archer Jr. (27 February 1929 – 18 December 2019), was an English former leading motorcycle racer of the 1950s, competing in long-distance speed trials, road racing and scrambles, now known as motocross.[3]
| Les Archer | |
|---|---|
Archer in 1956. | |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 27 February 1929[1] Farnham, Surrey |
| Died | 18 December 2019 (aged 90)[2] Calp, Spain[2] |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 1946-1967 |
| Teams | Norton |
| Championships | 500cc – 1956 (European) |
| Wins | 10 |
He was the son of Les Archer, also a top motorcycle racer from the 1920s.[3] Archer is notable for winning the 1956 F.I.M. 500cc European Motocross Championship on a highly modified Manx Norton.[4][5][6]
Biography
editArcher rode for the New Imperial factory at the 1947 Isle of Man TT,[7] and competed in the 1950 International Six Days Trial as a member of the British Army team.[8] He competed alongside his traveling companion Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.[3][9] Archer was also a member of the victorious British teams at the 1952 and 1953 Motocross des Nations events. Archer competed in the FIM European motocross championship with a 10th-place finish in 1954 then, improving to a 5th place in the 1955 championship.[10][11] In 1956, he succeeded in winning the 500cc European motocross championship over the defending champion and countryman John Draper.[6] Archer further developed the Manx Norton into the 1960s with engine preparation by famed tuner Ray Petty.[3][12][13][14]
He died aged 90 in Spain in December 2019 where he had been living since his retirement.
References
edit- ^ England and Wales births Retrieved 21 January 2015
- ^ a b "Sad news - RIP Les Archer". nortonownersclub.org. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
I have just learnt that Les Archer passed away today at his home in Calpe, Spain.
- ^ a b c d "Les Archer Bio". mxworksbike.com. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ 1953 Archer Manx Norton Scrambler Retrieved 21 January 2015
- ^ Ryan, Ray (2003). Motocross racers: 30 years of legendary dirt bikes. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0760312391.
- ^ a b "1956 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Les Archer Isle of Man TT statistics". iomtt.com. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "1950 International Six Days Trial". speedtracktales.co.uk. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ Eric Cheney. Daily Telegraph (23 February 2002). Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- ^ "1954 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "1955 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ Motor Cycle 21 February 1963, p.252 more potent single-knocker for Archer Accessed and added 21 January 2015
- ^ Motor Cycle 28 February 1963, p.220 Bang on Tune - Part One by David Dixon. Accessed and added 21 January 2015
- ^ Les Archer Manx Norton at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Archived 11 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 26 August 2011.