Bernie Little
Bernie Little (born in McComb, Ohio on circa 1926 - died April 25, 2003) was the most successful owner in Unlimited Hydroplane racing history. His Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 hydroplane races they entered. They won the high points championship 22 years in 40 years of competition, and the Gold Cup 14 times.
Racing career
[change | change source]Little's team is also known for making an enclosed driver's seat to improve driver safety, after driver Dean Chenoweth was killed in a crash during a race in 1982.
His team employed some of the biggest names in their field, including designer Ron Jones, and driver Chip Hanauer who won more Gold Cup races than any other driver. He is second only to Bill Muncey in total races won.
Awards and recognition
[change | change source]Little has been inducted into the Unlimited Hydroplane Hall of Fame, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. Chenoweth, Hanauer, and another driver for Little, Tom D'Eath, are also in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
References
[change | change source]- Bernie Little obituary Archived 2006-05-13 at the Wayback Machine - from the American Boat Racing Association website
- Bernie Little - King of Boats - by Fred Farley - APBA Unlimited Historian