“...with Archer winning, there were grumbles the bike was too specialised... ”

An unlikely machine Though a road racing machine might seem an unlikely start to scrambling success, in Ron Hankins’ workshop the Manx Norton has become a commendable off-roader. Or, more correctly, the engine (and a long-stroke one at that), fitted into a frame inspired by Norton’s own Featherbed one, has done it. It is possible to assume, and it has been said, the frame started life as a Featherbed and had been altered, but the truth is Ron Hankins built a jig to make his own frame.

Though our story ends with the 1956 championship, Les Archer raced Manx-based machines up until the mid 1960s except the last one, with frames taken from Hankins’ jig. To construct the frame, from legendary Reynolds 531, a Featherbed inspired bottom loop was bent up but mated to the steering head in a sweeping curve to allow a larger front wheel to have enough travel for a motocross event. In order to cope with the increased stress on the steering head in a scramble, Hankins welded in plenty of bracing. Such efforts to make a bike as it should be did not go unnoticed and with Archer winning there were grumbles the bike was too specialised and certain people petitioned to have it banned – sour grapes maybe? It was claimed to be for the good of the sport but had Archer circulated at the rear of the entry would he have caused such a fuss with a special frame?

Though eventually the frame would house a fairly potent Ray Petty-built motor based on the double overhead camshaft unit, for the 1950s it was the single overhead camshaft version which did the business. Gear ratios to convert this power to the back wheel, incidentally a Manx item too, were arrived at by careful study of the Manx spares lists. Les felt the big advantage of his Norton over the opposition was its power to weight ratio and its balance as Ron Hankins had tried to provide a neutral balance to the bike with its balance point at the footrests.

Archer’s day Though the majority of the 1956 series warranted only small reports in the UK press, the British GP covered a spread in The Motorcycle, headlined ‘Archer’s Day. Quite rightly so, as he dominated the GP by winning both heats to wipe out any doubt cast by his early season problems.

No less than 15,000 people went along to Hawkstone Park in Shropshire where the Salop club laid out a course to put the accent more on rider skill than sheer speed and also allowed for a greater spectacle for the paying public. Rain early in the morning ensured the track was in prime condition for the international event later in the day.

Going into the meeting it was Geoff Ward – BSA mounted rather than AJS – and Belgian Nic Jansen sharing the title lead. Behind them came six riders on eight points including Archer and the reigning champ Draper. Ahead of them all were two heats of 10 laps on a recognisably tough course. To kick-start the day were two heats and a final of a 500c invitation race to whet the spectators’ appetites and they got to see PN Taft, described as an up-and-coming youngster, dominate the race giving the crowd a taste of what was to come with Archer.

With all due pomp and circumstance the field of international riders paraded before the home crowd then took their places on the start line. A false start showed how nervous the entry was but the restart was clean with Belgian Rombauts taking the lead from Britain’s Geoff Ward. Our man Archer managed to pull alongside Ward then by the time the entry completed the first lap Les had the lead and increased the gap between himself and Rombauts as the race progressed. A collapsed rear suspension unit slowed the Belgian in the latter stages of the race and allowed Ward to pass and by the last lap third place was over to John Draper and all eyes were on the second heat. Before then though there was an interval where the 1000cc invitation race took place which gave riders a chance to rectify their machine problems.

For the second race, Archer and Ward surged ahead of the pack and things looked good for a British domination of the second race too. Unfortunately Geoff Ward’s BSA suffered fork trouble… they were jammed on full depression! There was little option but for Ward to retire. His second place was taken by Rombauts – for a while – until he hit problems again and Nic Jansen assumed second, but with John Draper hot on his heels. Draper passed the Belgian but Archer was steadily pulling away from the field with a 20 second lead – a long way at such speeds. In the end his lead was an unassailable 38 seconds, putting him top man of the day and moving him to joint first in the championship with Jansen, both having 16 points. An excellent day for Archer and the UK. ■