“IT’S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT BUT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE.” Brent Harris
Most of you will remember Brent Harris because of his bright yellow 33 Willies, his fearless driving, “Never lift” quote or perhaps he was your friend or co worker. Perhaps you never knew him at all? If not, let me tell you, you really missed out. I will remember Brent in many ways but especially for the quote above. Not because he said it often but because he lived it daily. Brent left an indelible mark on my life because I was fortunate to spend a lot of time around him and observe Brent’s special connection with people, contagious smile and charismatic character. I felt blessed because Brent was a family member, he was married to my younger sister Sharon,which made me very happy!
Yes, I was one of the happiest people in the world on Augurst 8th, 2011, the day Brent married my sister Sharon. It was the beginning of some of the happiest days of Brent’s life. Two years previously Sharon had met Brent in my pit at Mission Raceway. I had just dropped a valve and in typical Brent style he was helping pull the heads. Sharon and Brent began their relationship when they met again a few months later at our Thunder in the Valley drag race in Sharon’s home town of Port Alberni. Our family just loved Brent and were absolutely delighted when two years later they married on the anniversary of their first date.
We spent many weeks with the happy couple. Brent generously took us to California where he often raced at the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield. We made many great memories there and loved to meet his many friends and fans. Ron crewed for Brent and we both beamed with excitement and pride as we watched Brent pilot his famous Yellow 1933 Willies down the historic Famosa track and usually on three wheels! Brent always attended the Old Time Drags in Mission where he lit up the pits with his contagious laughter and animated personality! I last watched Brent race at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Brent’s home track. It was during a very windy labor day weekend in 2012. As Brent came past the bleachers the excessive wind caught the 99 inch Willies chassis and almost pushed him into the guard rail but he still managed to rip off an almost 200 mile per hour pass. Who would have thought it would be his last time down the quarter mile?
Brent took some time away from drag racing after that race and he and Sharon enjoyed their time together travelling to sunny destinations and spending time at their home in Scottsdale, Arizona. The couple had recently got into motorcycles and we were fortunate to spend some time there riding around the desert with them last year. They also had a pair of Harley’s in Vancouver where they spent endless hours together riding and tinkering in the shop. Brent had become fairly domesticated in his final years and they both really enjoyed landscaping and renovating their homes together. The ingenious Brent could fix or build anything.
Brent and Sharon also spent many great times with us here at our home in Port Alberni. They joined us camping on the remote West Coast beaches, salmon fishing, water skiing and of course white water river tubing down the mighty Stamp River. Brent almost drowned on one trip but he still approached every adventure with the energy, enthusiasm and fearlessness of a teenager. Brent and Sharon loved the Alberni Valley during the summertime and eventually purchased a country home on acreage down the road with plans to retire here part time.
Unfortunately it was not to be. On April 26th Brent finally succumbed to the complications of esophageal cancer surgery after a three month battle at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. Brent passed peacefully with dignity and without pain. He always maintained his “never lift” attitude and his spirit never gave up, his body did. Brent was surround by those he was closest too and passed like he lived, on his terms.
Brent was born on August 19th, 1951 in Ontario where he leaves his mother Audrey, brothers Brian and Brice and sister Cheri. Brent is survived by his wife Sharon and her family, his sons Jason and Warren and daughter Jennifer and three grandchildren. Brent also leaves to morn his second family at Premay equipment and his chosen family, a large group of buddies from the Edmonton/Stony Plain area. Brent was a true car guy and he spent much of his time wheeling and dealing, wrenching on and buying Hot Rods while feeding his need for speed and passion for anything on wheels.
Brent was sponsored by friends Larry and Brian at BEL Engines but one of Brent’s main sponsors was Competition Chevrolet in Stony Plain. He was also great friends with owner Blair Polack and over the years spent many hours in the shop hanging out with him, his son Derek and buddies Corey, Phil, Wade, Tommy, Eddie and many more friends. I was fortunate to visit Brent’s awesome shop on occasion and was always in awe of his incredible collection of drag racing memorabilia, especially his huge AA Gasser collection. His Hot Rod collection was just as impressive as his garage art and every year when Brent and the gang went to the Scottsdale auctions we always waited with excited anticipation to see what he would come home with. Sadly Brent attended his final auction just prior to entering hospital in January. He had also just taken possession of his latest project, a 1938 Willies Pick Up which he never had a chance to complete.
Brent was also into Big “IRON”. Brent was a long time employee of Premay Equipment where he first started as a driver in 1978 quickly rising through the ranks to trailer Supervisor. When Premay opened a new branch in Fort McMurray Brent jumped at the opportunity to manage the new facility. Brent built the ‘Fort Mac’ business often using his truck as his office. Premay was sold to The Mullen Group in 1994 and Brent was appointed company President where he led the company through another 20 years of prosperity and growth. Brent had many responsibilities and in recent years took on the development of custom built prime movers for the Alberta Oil Sands. Brent bought many Challenger trucks which were designed and built here in Port Alberni by resident John Casanave. Many of the trucks were owned by Vancouver Island Entrepreneur Ron Coulson and Brent begin purchasing the remaining trucks from Ron which he converted for use in the heavy haul business. In typical Brent style he became and remained very good friends with both John and Ron. Brent was an integral and important part of the Premay Division of the Mullen Group but more importantly he was a nice guy. He treated all of his co workers as equals and often worked alongside of them in field leading by example while earning the admiration and respect of his co workers.
I first met Brent shortly after the inception of Thunder in the Valley, a local drag race I first volunteered at almost fourteen years ago. Brent and his good friend Duane Grosart were the feature cars for years and both were loved by the huge contingency of Vancouver Island gear heads. For years Brent also generously donated drums of VHT track compound for the racing surface. From the first day I met Brent I knew he was special. Brent was one of the most generous and genuine people you could ever meet. He was always exciting, fun and welcoming. The man truly radiated warmth. His generosity knew no limits. While at the Hot Rod reunion one year we had a family emergency and had to quickly fly home. Brent insisted he paid the entire bill. Once I seen an awesome “Hot Rod Grill” Barbeque that looked like an engine. On his next visit Brent brought me one. Brent also loved to haul his car to Stollery’s children’s hospital every year and it pained his heart to see those little faces as he visited the sick children and gave away T-shirts. Brent’s generosity knew no bounds.
Brent absolutely loved his job and his co workers. He was a successful business man but like myself, Brent’s passion was drag racing. We would spend endless hours storytelling, name dropping and sharing giggles. One of my most fond memories of times spent with Brent was the Sunday night after our local race. Unfortunately famed story teller 240 Gordie Bonin had just left but the always interesting Twig Zeigler was staying the night so we all settled in for a big dinner on my rear deck. The beverages were flowing, the oldies were playing and the bench racing was second to none. It was a perfect evening with two of my favorites. It was also the 10th anniversary of Thunder in the Valley and in honor of both that and Twig the always generous Brent had designed hundreds of awesome T shirts with both his 33 Willy’s and Twigs Nitro Funny Car to commemorate the event. Unbeknownst to most people Twig raced the 33 Willy’s long before Brent owned it.
Yes, Brent was a jewel of a person. He was always smiling, happy, boisterous and just plain happy to see or meet anyone he came into contact with. Brent treated everyone with kindness and respect. Whether you were the track owner or the guy on the burnout box broom Brent made everyone feel special with his attentive, respectful disposition and infectious smile. Brent said nothing bad about anyone and always looked for the best in people.
……Dyan Lover
