{{Short description|British motorcycle racer}} {{about|the British motorcycle racer (1907-2001)|the British motorcycle racer (1929-2019), his son|Les Archer Jr.}} {{Use British English|date=August 2011}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} '''Leslie James Archer''' (20 June 1907<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leslie James Archer |url=https://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=birthsutf002c%20marriages%20utf0026%20deaths&collection=births%20utf0026%20baptisms&firstname=leslie&lastname=archer&birthyear=1907&birthyear_offset=0&keyword=farnham |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.genesreunited.co.uk}}</ref> – 2001) was an English leading motorcycle racer of the 1920s, competing in long-distance speed trials, hill climbs and scrambles, now known as motocross.<ref name="Les Archer obituary">{{cite web |title=Les Archer |website=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419120610/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1325739/Les-Archer.html |archive-date=2023-04-19 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1325739/Les-Archer.html}}</ref>
Archer was the son of an Aldershot motorcycle dealer. Riding for the New Imperial factory, he set several speed world records at the Brooklands motor racing circuit.<ref name="Les Archer obituary"/> Archer was also a regular competitor at the Isle of Man TT with a best finish of fourth place at the 1934 Senior TT, aboard a Velocette.<ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=ALL&ride_id=718 Les Archer Isle of Man TT results]</ref> He retired after the 1948 Isle of Man TT, in which his son, Les Archer, Jr., also competed. He continued to run the family business in Aldershot and followed the fortunes of his son, who went on to win the 500cc European motocross championship in 1956. His shop also employed Eric Cheney, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary: Eric Cheney |date=2002-01-10 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220728232907/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jan/10/guardianobituaries |archive-date=2022-07-28 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jan/10/guardianobituaries}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Les}} Category:1907 births Category:2001 deaths Category:English motorcycle racers Category:Isle of Man TT riders Category:Sportspeople from Aldershot Category:20th-century English sportsmen
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