Like most people who grow up on Mercer Island, Brent Hall’s love of hydro racing began as a boy.

He pulled homemade models behind his bike and turned remote controlled cars into little hydroplane boats on wheels. “I’d make anything into a hydroplane,” he said.

Hall, now entering his rookie year as a racer, couldn’t be more thrilled for the Tastin’ and Racin’ event June 11 and 12 at Lake Sammamish State Park.

The Lake Sammamish races are like a Seafair for the smaller, 2.5-liter boats, Hall said.

Ranked first in the area and second in the nation for his class, he’s hoping to relight public interest in what many say is a dying sport.

“I see an opportunity,” Hall said.

Part of the reason Hall fell in love with the sport was the opportunity to meet the drivers, but they aren’t out and about as they once were.

“One of the things hydroplane racing is missing is connections with people,” he said. “We should be out in the community.”

So Hall has turned his focus to public visits. He plans to be at Spacelabs Healthcare in Issaquah for a small rally at 1:30 p.m. today.

He’s also focused on fundraising for nonprofit groups such as Communities in Schools of Seattle.

A young driver, he still has quite a bit to learn.

There are no training courses or practice rounds for hydroplane racing. All of the learning and teaching is done during races.

The most he can do is practice getting out of his boat, or with eyes closed practicing turns in his mind.

While the smaller class of boats aren’t as big, they’re still fast. He’s gotten a 2.5-liter boat up to 88 mph, he said. “When the boat gets fast, it gets really quiet.”

At anytime, something dangerous could happen. One time a malfunction in a boat caused an entire sponson to rip off. Luckily he wasn’t hurt, and the boat crossed the finish line before getting a tow to shore.

“When you’re running the best, you feel totally out of control, because you’re floating on a pocket of air,” Hall said.

His interest turned to a passion when he rented a boat for a weekend of racing, he said. “I was hooked.”

He bought his own boat last year, but this will be the first year he’s been able to race his own vehicle, making it his rookie year.

During the day, he works as a call center director at AT&T. He and his wife also run a senior care home out of their Bothell home.

Tastin’ and Racin’

9 a.m.-6 p.m., June 11; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 12

Lake Sammamish State Park

2000 N.W. Sammamish Rd., Issaquah

Admission: $5-$10

Brent Hall is a rookie hydroplane driver planning to show his new boat at the Tastin’ and Racin’ event at Lake Sammamish State Park on June 11. The event is like the Seafair race, but in the smaller, 2.5-liter class boats.