In February, as part of our enrichment programming, HRS hosted Brent Hall to speak with students about his highspeed life in hydroplane racing. Brent’s story is one that inspires and has the lesson to dream big and to not let adversity detract you from your goals.

Brent has HRS connections through his brother, Hayden Hall, a beloved former math faculty member of our Middle School, who was lost to cancer last summer. Brent himself is a cancer survivor and uses his experience to stay grounded while moving forward with the perspective to “take one day at a time, one lap at a time.”

In reflecting on Hayden, Brent shared that he lived for teaching and that he “loved when the lightbulbs went on” and treasured being a part of that happening for students. Housed in the Middle School, the Math Resource Center honors Hayden and his philosophy that learning should be fun.

As children, Brent and Hayden loved watching the hydroplanes. They consumed Seafair magazines for racer stats and created paper hydroplanes. Attending Seafair parties hosted by their mother sparked Brent’s lifelong passion for the motorsport. “It’s a dream come true. As a kid, to have watched the races all those years and to now be a part of it; it’s really special,” said Brent.

His love for the sport continued beyond his youth, and he volunteered as a part of the Oberto hydroplane public relations team in 2011. Brent recalls handing out beef jerky with Art Oberto of Oberto Sausage Factory, a small gesture that brought smiles to eventgoers, alongside Art’s well-known habit of giving away four-color pens.

When Brent met Harold Mills, his relationship with the motorsport changed. Harold is the first African American man to win a trophy at Seattle’s Seafair (2005) in the Unlimited Lights class. Brent recalls how life-changing it was to see someone like him racing and how that experience set him on his current racing trajectory.

To date, Brent’s top speed is 178 miles per hour. In 2023, he came “so close to making history” as the first African American to ever qualify as an Unlimited hydroplane driver. One lap short, the gearbox let go. Brent remembers that at that moment of extreme disappointment and frustration, he had a choice about how he was going to react. Aware that cameras were on him and kids were watching, he made the choice to show up as an example of positivity and not defeat. He exited the hydroplane smiling and engaged with the kids and others, making people’s day and making many new fans. He knew that this setback would not be the end of his dream.

“The goal is still to become a fully qualified Unlimited hydroplane driver, and from that, I get to make a bit of history,” said Brent.

“It’s important to find what you love. And then when you do, go after it. You have to be willing to reach out to ask for help when you need it, but also to put in the work.”—Brent Hall

Enriching our students through cultural, historic, civic, artistic, and scientific thinking experiences enhances our educational program. Bringing guests, such as Brent Hall to campus, is supported by the Joan Beauregard Endowment for Discovery and Enrichment.