The legendary T.C. Christenson passed away on September 21, 2023, with his family by his side. A lifelong resident of Kenosha, he was born on February 1, 1943, to parents Harry and Marian (Ruffalo) Christenson, and was the owner of Sunset Motors in Kenosha for 54 years.
T.C. was a world-famous motorcycle drag racer who won four consecutive world titles from 1972 to 1975 while riding the Norton “Hogslayer” bike. The bike earned its name by repeatedly beating the dominant Harley-Davidson drag bikes at the time. The Hogslayer set numerous records, and with T.C. riding it was the fastest drag bike on the planet for most of the early to mid-1970s.
In 2005, T.C. was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and the Hogslayer is now housed in the British National Motorcycle Museum in England. Fans can watch the incredible story in the documentary, “Hogslayer: The Unapproachable Legend,” which was originally released in 2011 at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee and then re-released in October 2022 for its homecoming at the Rhode Theatre in Kenosha. The Hogslayer even has a song about it.
Besides going fast on motorcycles or driving Corvettes, he could be found out and about anywhere something cool was happening or parked along the lakefront in his motorhome. And no matter where he was, he would always run into people who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Harrison; daughters: Marissa (Matt) Miner and Caitlin (Peter) Kroening; three grandchildren: Margot, Clay and Bridgette; and many nieces and nephews. T.C. was preceded in death by his parents; son Tommy; and brother Ronald. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
