It took me a second or two to realise that the side cars had passengers who seem to have had the sole purpose of providing ballast! This is Les Archer with unknown passenger, followed by (I think) Ben Bickell at Brooklands on 5th October 1929
It took me a second or two to realise that the side cars had passengers who seem to have had the sole purpose of providing ballast!
Les rode for the New Imperial factory, setting several world speed records at the Brooklands. He was also a regular competitor at the Isle of Man TT with a best finish of fourth place at the 1934 Senior TT, riding a Velocette. He retired after the 1948 Isle of Man TT, in which his son, Les Archer, Jr., also competed.
Ben Bickell won a number of races at Brooklands. He survived a huge accident in October of 1934, when he went off the banking at Brooklands at over 100 mph. He competed four times in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy between 1930 and 1936. He also raced cars, occasionally driving an Austin at Brooklands. Sadly on Saturday, 22nd August 1936 at the Clady circuit in County Antrim, he crashed his Ariel 500 into a low wall, He sustained sever head injuries and though he was taken to hospital he passed away later that day. He was due to marry the following month.