Ralph Rensen
Biography: Age 28, Ralph Rensen is both an engineer and a Liverpudlian. His successes in the early '50's included second place at Rhydymwyn in the 350 c.c. class, Easter 1953, third in the 350 c.c. and fourth in the 500 c.c. at Altcar in 1954, while he has also competed at Eppynt, Aintree and Brough, and in the Carrowdore "100" and the Mid-Antrim "150." In the 1954 North-West "200" he was eighth in the 350 c.c. (being placed second on handicap), second in the Open handicap and winner of the Newcomers Handicap.
His efforts in 1955 brought fifth in the 350 c.c. race at Oulton Park and eighth in the Aintree meeting, once again in the 330 c.c. class. He was third in the 350 c.c. race at Altcar, and 15th in the Ulster Grand Prix. In the Senior T.T. he was 23rd, winning a bronze replica.
Ralph was placed well up the list in the 1950 T.T., being 15th in the Junior and 11th in the Senior, but he did not have much luck in 1957—he was 53rd In the Junior, but retired in both Lightweight and Senior races.
Ralph was placed well up the list in the 1956 T.T., being 15th in the Junior and 11th in the Senior, but he did not have much luck in 1957 - he was 53rd in the Junior, but retired in both Lightweight and Senior races.
In 1958 he won the "350" class of the Tandragee "I00", and the 350 c.c. class of the Cookstown "100." He was 13th in the Junior T.T. and 12th in the Senior, collecting a couple of "Silvers," and he went on to win the 350 c.c. classes of the KiIlinchy "150", the Skerries "100", the Mid-Antrim "150" and the Temple "100".
In 1959 he did even better in the TT. - he was 11th in the Junior and 9th in the Senior, with two more "Silvers", and he then had many successes in Irish races, including firsts in the 500 c.c. class of the Leinster "200", the Killinchy "150", the Mid-Antrim "150" and the Skerries and Carrowdore 100's".
Last year Ralph was fifth in the Junior T.T. and tenth in the Senior, with a couple of Silver Replicas. In Ireland he was more seecessful than ever winning, amongst other races, the 500 c.c. class of the Leinster "200" and the Carrowdore, Cookstown, Skerries and Temple "100's". He wound up the season with a trip to Spain, where he won the 500 c.c. class of the El Retiro races at Madrid.
Early last April he won both 350 and 500 c.c. classes of the Circuit de Pau races, and a week later scored two first places and one second place at Le Mans. On 30th April he won both 350 and 500 c.c. classes at the Bourg-en-Bresse races in France. The following week-end he was second in the 350 c.c. class of the Saar Grand Prix and was third in the 500, whilst last month he was fourth inthe 350 c.c. class of the German Grand Prix. At Chimay, on Whit Sunday, he won the 125 and 500 c.c. races and was second in the 350. (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p. 8.)
Mounts: Junior – Norton
Senior – Norton
Age 23, Ralph Rensen is both an engineer and a Liverpudlian.
Successes in recent years include second place at Rhydymwyn in the 350 c.c. class, Easter 1953, third in the 350 c.c. class and fourth in the 500 c.c. at Altcar in 1954, while he has also competed at Eppynt, Aintree and Brough, and in the Carrowdore "100" and the Mid-Antrim "150". In the 1954 North-West "200" he was eighth in the 350 c.c. (being placed second on handicap), second in the Open handicap and winner of the Newcomers Handicap.
His efforts last season brought fifth in the 350 c.c. race at Oulton Park and eighth in the Aintree meeting, once again in the 350 c.c. class. He was third in the 350 c.c. race at Altcar, and 15th in the Ulster Grand Prix. In the Senior T.T. he was 23rd, winning a bronze replica. The machines he rides are the "square" Nortons, and he is entered by Reg Dearden, of Manchester.
(TT Special, 8 June 1956, p.8.)
1961 Ultra Lightweight TT 6 1:21:35.20 83.26 Bultaco
1961 Senior TT R Norton
1961 Junior TT 3 2:25:03.00 93.65 Norton
1960 Senior TT 10 2:23:08.00 94.9 Norton
1960 Lightweight TT R NSU
1959 Senior TT 9 3:18:08.20 79.99 Norton
1959 Junior TT 11 2:55:16.00 90.41 Norton
1958 Senior TT 12 2:51:41.80 92.29 Norton
1957 Lightweight TT R Velocette
1955 Junior TT R Norton
1954 Senior MGP R 0 AJS
1954 Junior MGP 14 2:46:03.00 81.81 AJS
1953 Junior MGP R 0 Velocette