Benutzer:Pessottino/Les

Leslie James „Les “Archer (* 20. Juni 1907; † 2001) war ein britischer Motorradrennfahrer. The Aldershot Flyer Er nahm in den 1920er- und 1930er-Jahren sowohl an Straßen-, Langstrecken- und Bergrennen als auch an Motocrossveranstaltungen teil.

Archer stammte aus Aldershot, wo seine Vater vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg Rennräder baute und am 1923 einen Motorradhandel besaß. Sein erstes Motorrad war im Jahr 1921 eine Zweitakt-Cedos. Nachdem Archer im Alter von 16 Jahren die Schule verlassen hatte, begann er im Betrieb des Vaters zu arbeiten und kam schnell im Kontakt zum Motorradsport. Ab Mitte der 1920er war er Werksfahrer bei New Imperial in Birmingham. Im November 1927 stellte Archer zusammen mit drei Rennfahrerkollegen auf einer 250-cm³-Maschine auf der schnellen Brooklands-Bahn vier Weltrekorde auf.

In den 1930er-Jahren fuhr the 1930s, Archer raced for New Imperial in the 250 cc division. Riding a KTT Velocette, he won the British Motor Cycle Racing Club's coveted Mellano Trophy at Brooklands in 1933, averaging more than 100 mph, the only time this was ever achieved. In 1946 Archer's son, also Les, won the Mellano - the only time the trophy was won by both father and son.

Er starb mi Jahr 2001 im Alter von 93 Jahren.

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. 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.

During this time he rode a wide variety of motor-cycles, including the curious American "Ner-a-car" which had a driving position similar to that of a car. He was forced to try this out because his father's company was then the agent for the machine.

Archer first rode at Brooklands in 1926 in a one-hour time trial. He borrowed a Birmingham-built 250 cc New Imperial from his father's shop and recorded the best performance by any novice club member.

On his return he told his father that he wanted to join the British Motor Cycle Racing Club. Soon Archer began a long association with New Imperial, whose racing motor-cycles he helped to develop.

Often Archer was waiting at the gates of Brooklands when they opened at 8 am, having ridden to the Surrey track from his home at Aldershot in the early dawn. One of his attempts on records involved his 16-year old sisters Thelma and Joan.

"Teddy Prestwich, one of the family who controlled the Tottenham JAP engine factory had discovered that there were some easy records to be broken in the 100 cc class and as a publicity stunt he got my sisters to ride the bike," recalled Archer.

"They were already experienced riders and went out and broke seven world records at around the 50 mph mark!"

By this time the Archers had their own workshop at Brooklands and in 1930 Les moved up into the 350 cc class on a Velocette. Soon he was put under contract by the Birmingham firm of Hall Green, and was regularly in the hunt at the Isle of Man TT and at the Ulster, and at grands prix on the Continent. His best placing was a second in the 250 cc Dutch TT in 1932.

He had joined the Volunteer Fire and Ambulance service in 1925, and during the war was drafted into the National Fire Service. He was stationed at Portsmouth, Southampton, Plymouth and Manchester.

He returned to racing in peacetime, retiring after the 1948 Isle of Man TT, in which his son also competed. "I was over 40 by then and it was time to call it a day but the race was a great disappointment," he remembered. "I was going well when I got a puncture. What a way to finish."

He continued to run the family business in Aldershot and followed the fortunes of his son, who went on to win the 500 cc European moto-cross championship in 1956. He later retired to Spain.

He is survived by his wife Hazel, whom he married in 1927, and by their son.

Verweise

Weblinks

• Pessottino/Les auf der offiziellen Website der Isle of Man TT (englisch)

Einzelnachweise

[[Kategorie:Mann]] [[Kategorie:Geboren 1907]] [[Kategorie:Gestorben 2001]] [[Kategorie:Motorrad-Rennfahrer (Vereinigtes Königreich)]] {{Personendaten |NAME=Archer, Les |ALTERNATIVNAMEN=Archer, Leslie James (vollständiger Name) |KURZBESCHREIBUNG= |GEBURTSDATUM=20. Juni 1907 |GEBURTSORT= |STERBEDATUM=2001 |STERBEORT= }}