Les Archer | |
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![]() Archer in 1956. | |
Nationality | British |
Born | 27 February 1929[1] Farnham, Surrey |
Died | 18 December 2019[2] Calp, Spain[2] | (aged 90)
Motocross career | |
Years active | 1946-1967 |
Teams | Norton |
Championships | 500cc – 1956 (European) |
Wins | 10 |
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]
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]
Archer 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.