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 Road racing is a North American term to describe motorsport racing held on a paved road surface. The races can be held on a race track, closed circuit—generally, a purpose-built racing facility—or on a street circuit that uses temporarily c ...

and scrambles, now known as

motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...

. 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 The Norton Manx or Manx Norton is a British racing motorcycle that was made from 1947 to 1962 by Norton Motorcycle Company, Norton Motors Ltd. Norton had contested every Isle of Man TT race from the inaugural 1907 event through into the 1970s, ...

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 The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

team. He competed alongside his traveling companion Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers. Archer was also a member of the victorious British teams at the 1952 and 1953

Motocross des Nations The Motocross of Nations (MXON), also known by its original French name (''MXDN'') is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the " Olympics of Motocross". The event has been staged since ...

events. Archer competed in the FIM European motocross championship with a 10th-place finish in

1954 Events January * January 3 – The Italian broadcaster RAI officially begins transmitting. * January 7 – Georgetown–IBM experiment: The first public demonstration of a machine translation system is held in New York, at the head ...

then, improving to a 5th place in the

1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes president of Panama. * January 17 – , the first nuclear-powered submarine, puts to sea for the first time, from Groton, Connecticut. * January 18– 20 – Battle of Yijian ...

championship. In

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan after 57 years. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, E ...

, he succeeded in winning the 500cc European motocross championship over the defending champion and countryman

John Draper John Thomas Draper (born March 11, 1943), also known as Captain Crunch, Crunch, or Crunchman after a toy boatswain's call whistle once given away in boxes of Cap'n Crunch breakfast cereal that for some years could be used to make free long d ...

. Archer further developed the Manx Norton into the 1960s with engine preparation by famed tuner Ray Petty.Les Archer Manx Norton at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
. Motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 26 August 2011. He 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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Les Jr. 1929 births 2019 deaths British motocross riders Isle of Man TT riders Enduro riders Sportspeople from Aldershot 20th-century British Army personnel