RIP a racer and bloody good bloke

**slowpoke** · 7th October 2010, 20:28

Every now and then I log on to the NZSBK website to catch up with the National's goss. I was gutted yesterday to read about the passing of Brent Hall:

Tuesday, 5 October 2010 A Tragic Loss

We are very sad hear that longtime Canterbury club member and competitor Brent Hall tragically took his own life on last Wednesday. This event has shocked many people, Brent was married to Leigh McCleary daughter of former MNZ President Kevin and his wife Colleen. Brent will be sadly missed , he is survived by his wife Leigh and four sons Bjorn, Shae, Stefan and Jonty pictured here at the left of his dad lining up for the 2010 NZGP.

We would like to express our deepest sympathy to Leigh and Family.

Brent was a true sportsman , who lent his hand to not only racing , but also helping out at Club Days and National meetings , and even sidecar racing.

The NZSBK Team

I hardly new Brent, only meeting him earlier in the year the first time I'd headed South to do the Lady Wigram event at Ruapuna. But it was guys like Brent, Butch and others who made a no name back marker feel incredibly welcome and want to come back for more, despite having it all turn to custard.

We were both a couple of stupid old buggers having a laugh at ourselves, similar speed (or lack of, haha) and were looking forward to playing at the back of the field together at what would be our first taste of the National's the following weekend. I spoiled all that by tossing it away big time during Friday unofficial practice, and when Brent rocked up he was almost as gutted as I was.

Sorry I won't get to race with you again Brent, but thanks for making me so welcome, you were a fantastic ambassador for Motorcycling Canterbury and a bloody good bloke. Ride In Peace mate.

**Harvd** · 7th October 2010, 21:08

No way. I played sport with his oldest son and saw him around at racing and he gave me some very good advice. This is so sad. Regards to his family

Harvey

**Maido** · 8th October 2010, 07:17

Very sad, my condolences to his family

**Kickaha** · 8th October 2010, 18:18

I was rung by a family member and told the morning after

When I first had a go at Sidecar racing it was Brent "Barney" Hall whose spot on the chair I took to have a go, his advice was "don't let go"

I raced against him in Sidecars, I raced with him as swinger on a Sidecar I rode, he took my place with my regular rider when I had a shoulder operation and he filled in many times for us with other people, the last time racing a Sidecar we organised for him at the levels Nationals round earlier this year

I also knew him through work as the place he worked for was a regular client of ours

A bit of a fitness freak I ran into him at Methven street races where he had cycled to from Christchurch a distance of a 100 odd km and apparently passed some Harleys on a shingle road on the way

A thoroughly nice guy always time for a chat interested in what you'd been up to and as someone else called him "the man with the permanent smile"

Tuesday I was at the service to farewell him and the place was so packed 1/2 the crowd couldn't fit in the hall, they had to ask people to move outside so they had room to carry him in

Even typing this it's hard to believe he's gone and there's a lot of people who're going to miss him

Cheers Barney for the time we had with you, it was time well spent