Visit Leslie Archer in Spain
Early 2014, we had the opportunity to meet the former European Champion Motocross 500cc from 1956, Leslie Archer. Archer was born in Aldershot (UK) and grew up in a real Motorsport family. His father and grandfather were deeply involved in the Motorsport and the origin of the Scramble or Motocross in Aldershot, England in the early twenties of the last century. Also as his father, Archer started with roadracing and participate with the TT Isle of Man. Because of his figure, Archer decided in the early fifties to start a serious Motocross career. His father had good contacts with the Norton factory in Birmingham and the famous Norton Manx roadracer was redeveloped to a competitive Scrambler or Motocrossbike within eighteen months. Archer and Eric Cheney were the direct factory riders from the Norton company. Leslie Archer belongs to the elite of riders from the Golden Era and won the famous Motocross of Aces in St. Anthonis three times behind each other ( a hattrick), namely in 1955, 1956 and 1957. No other rider did ever reached this performance in the period til 1985. In the late fiftees and early sixties, Archer has a lot of competition from the Swedish riders like Bill Nilsson, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin and in the earlier days with the Belgian René Baeten, who all drove with superior bikes. Archer drove totally fifteen seasons on the mondial circuits with the well known Norton and went after his career into the carbusiness. Archer still enjoys his life together with his wife Claire, who was born in Amboise (F), near the coast in Spain for more than twenty-five years. Archer hopes to reach the respectable age of 85 years at the end of February this year. It was a pleasure to meet this family and hearing the fascinating stories from the past.
Leslie Archer shows his victory trophy in front of his impressive trophy case concerning the well-known Motocross of Aces in St. Anthonis from 1956.