Les Archer, Jr.
| Les Archer | |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  British |
| Born | 1929 (age 94–95)[1] Farnham, Surrey |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 1950s |
| Teams | Norton |
| Championships | 500cc – 1956 (European) |
| Wins | 10 |
Les Archer (born 1929) is an English former leading motorcycle racer of the 1950s, competing in long distance speed trials, road racing and scrambles, now known as motocross.[2] He was the son of Les Archer, also a top motorcycle racer from the 1920s.[2] Archer is best known for winning the 1956 F.I.M. 500cc European Motocross Championship on a highly modified Manx Norton.[3][4][5]
Archer rode for the New Imperial factory at the 1947 Isle of Man TT,[6] and competed in the 1950 International Six Days Trial as a member of the British Army team.[7] He competed alongside his traveling companion Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.[2][8] 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.[9][10] In 1956, he succeeded in winning the 500cc European motocross championship over the defending champion and countryman John Draper.[5] Archer further developed the Manx Norton into the 1960s with engine preparation by famed tuner Ray Petty.[2][11][12][13]
References
- ↑ England and Wales births Retrieved 21 January 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 1953 Archer Manx Norton Scrambler Retrieved 21 January 2015
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Eric Cheney. Daily Telegraph (23 February 2002). Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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. Motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
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
<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>
 |
This English motorcycle racing biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
