Ken races into new season

When Bullsbrook’s Ken MacPherson isn’t tearing around the speedway track in his prized Barry Wright ICON race car, you’ll often find him at the park in Kingsford with his young family.

A sales manager with Avon Valley Toyota, Ken moved to Bullsbrook from Toodyay five years ago.

“My fiancé Rachel has lived in Bullsbrook for about 15 years and we’ve bought our first house together there,” he says.

“Our son Kade is just over a year old and we often take him to the new nature playground at Kingsford, which he really enjoys.

“I love that Bullsbrook still feels like a small town, away from the rat race, but still close to everything.”

A familiar face at Perth Motorplex and Ellenbrook Speedway, Ken discovered speedway as a kid. By the time he was 18, he’d made the transition from spectator to racing car driver, saving up to buy his first car in the Street Stock class.

He’s been racing Late Model Sedans since 2013 and imported his Barry Wright ICON from the US about a year ago.

“It’s a feeling like no other to race a Late Model,” he says. “To me Late Models are the purest form of racing car.”

Reaching speeds of up to 130kph, Late Models are the highest class of stock car racing at local level.

“Late Model racing demands the right amount of aggression and the right amount of smartness,” Ken says.

Finishing second in last year’s Late Model Pro Dirt Series, Ken can’t wait to put the Barry Wright ICON through its paces again.

The car now sports a new blue wrap for this year’s series, which kicked off at Perth Motorplex in October ahead of the Wild West Tour in January and the National Titles in February.

“I love the thrill of racing and the really great mates you make,” Ken says.

While purchasing the cherished Barry Wright ICON was one of last season’s highlights, one of the low points was rolling the car over when it made its debut at Perth Motorplex on Boxing Day in 2020. There was just a week to rebuild the car ready for its next race.

“I’m lucky Rachel is so supportive of my racing,” Ken laughs.