Bridges impresses on racing return

Spalding’s Ken Bridges recently returned to stock car racing after a break of 28 years, aged 60.
He used to race Brisca Formula 2 stock cars at nearby tracks such as Boston and Skegness, and in later years the long gone Alwalton track in Peterborough in the Superstox class.
He retired from racing in 1994 and sold the stock car on.
Fast forward to 2021 and, after hearing about his old car laying in field near Bedford, he thought it would be a good idea to purchase it back and restore it to its former glory.
The idea being to race at Swaffham in the recently formed Classic Stox class, a class that represents the bygone days of Brisca F2, Spedeworth superstox and other similar cars.
Swaffham’s recent double meeting weekend saw the debut of the newly-restored Ken Bridges car number 522.
It was straight out of the workshop, with no previous practice or set up time until a few hours before the Saturday meeting.
Heat one saw Bridges battle from the rear of the grid, from where he made up some places but didn’t quite make the placings.
He started to find better pace in heat two and found gaps in the field, which saw him rewarded with a second place.
The meeting final for the Classic Stox, was hampered by the pouring rain, but Bridges used to revel in the wet back in his heyday and convincingly took the lead with five laps remaining – and went on to take the win.
Sunday’s meeting at Swaffham saw a bigger grid for all of the races.
Starting from the rear of the grid in all races, he managed a fine third place in heat two.
The meeting final was in honour of Classic Stox founder Steve Widdowson who passed away last year.
Impressively, he grabbed a third place and took another trophy to take home.
Bridges has had a lot of help in his return to the ovals from many quarters, but in particular Tickners Trailer from Terrington St John have been crucial. His next meet is at Swaffham on October 9.