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.
He was the son of Les Archer, also a top motorcycle racer from the 1920s. Archer is notable for winning the 1956 F.I.M. 500cc European Motocross Championship on a highly modified Manx Norton.1953 Archer Manx Norton Scrambler Retrieved 21 January 2015
Biography Archer rode for the New Imperial factory at the 1947 Isle of Man TT, and competed in the 1950 International Six Days Trial as a member of the British Army team. He competed alongside his traveling companion Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.Eric Cheney. Daily Telegraph (23 February 2002). Retrieved 26 August 2011. 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 tenth-place finish in 1954 then, improving to a fifth place in the 1955 championship. In 1956, he succeeded in winning the 500cc European motocross championship over the defending champion and countryman John Draper. Archer further developed the Manx Norton into the 1960s with engine preparation by famed tuner Ray Petty.Motor Cycle 21 February 1963, p.252 more potent single-knocker for Archer Accessed and added 21 January 2015Motor Cycle 28 February 1963, p.220 Bang on Tune - Part One by David Dixon. Accessed and added 21 January 2015Les Archer Manx Norton at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame . Motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
Archer died aged 90 in Spain in December 2019 where he had been living since his retirement.
References
External links Les Archer Jr. biography 1953 Archer Manx Norton Scrambler at National Motorcycle Museum, England Les Archer Manx Norton at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, United States Motocross racers: 30 years of legendary dirt bikes, by Ray Ryan, 2003