Leslie James Archer was a leading motorcycle racer of the 1920s, competing in long distance speed trials, hill climbs

Hillclimbing

Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....

 and scrambles, now known as motocross

Motocross

Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...

.

Archer was the son of an Aldershot

Aldershot

Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...

 motorcycle dealer. Riding for the New Imperial factory, he set several speed world records at the Brooklands

Brooklands

Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...

 motor racing circuit. Archer was also a regular competitor at the Isle of Man TT

Isle of Man TT

The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...

 with a best finish of fourth place at the 1934

1934 Isle of Man TT

For the 1934 Isle of Man TT Races despite the winning of four TT Races in 2 years, Stanley Woods parted with Norton motor-cycles over the issue of prize money and race tactics and joined Husqvarna alongside Ernie Nott....

 Senior TT

Senior TT

The Senior Tourist Trophy is a motorcycle road race that takes place during the Isle of Man TT festival; an annual event at the end of May and beginning of June. The Senior TT is the Blue Riband event of the festival and takes place on the Friday of race week. The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars...

, aboard a Velocette

Velocette

Velocette is the name given to motorcycles that were made by Veloce Ltd, in Hall Green, Birmingham, England. One of several motorcycle manufacturers in Birmingham, Velocette was a small, family-owned firm, selling far fewer hand-built motorcycles than the giant BSA, Norton or Triumph concerns...

. He retired after the 1948 Isle of Man TT

1948 Isle of Man TT

In the 1948 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy festival Harold Daniell, lap record holder since 1938, failed to finish the 1948 Senior TT on his Norton, and victory went to Norton team member, Artie Bell, the flying Ulsterman. Norton dominated, taking the first three places, losing fourth to Geoff...

, in which his son, Les Archer, Jr.

Les Archer, Jr.

Les Archer was a leading motorcycle racer of the 1950s, competing in long distance speed trials, road racing and scrambles, now known as motocross...

, 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

Eric Cheney

Eric Cheney was an independent British motorcycle designer and constructor. He was known as one of the best motorcycle frame designers of his era.-Early life:...

, who went on to become one of the top British motorcycle designers.