Bernie Little passes away
 

Bernie Little, owner of the Miss Budweiser Unlimited Hydroplane passed away overnight.

Bernie was the toughest competitor I ever raced against. He motivated you to run faster, harder, smarter and he raised the bar with each new season.

Travel well and painless Bernie, you Lived fully.

Steve David, driver
U-6
O Boy! O Berto

One feisty guy have a good trip.

Sorry to hear that Steve. :( Bernie was and will always be known as the king of Unlimited Hydroplane Racing! R.I.P.

:( :( :( :(

A truly sad day in the sport boat racing. Thank you for all you did Bernie!

Brian

Bernie WAS unlimited racing.

No doubt he lived life to the fullest. Rest in peace.

RIP Bernie, On to a better place!!!

This BUDS for you.................

Off the web...

Another...

:( :( :(

:( RIP Bernie.

:( :( :( :( :( R.I.P.

:( :( :( RIP

we have lost one of the best in boat racing rip bernie you will be mised

Bernie lived to win and leaves us so many memories he already seems immortal. The sport will Miss you.

Rest in peace.

:( : :( :( :( :(

:( Steve, Thanks for the info, Growing up in the Northwest, I looked forward to the SeaFair race, the Hydros, and Bernie Little and the Miss Bud. The TV cameras followed Bernies every move! Larger than life, to steal others thunder. Bernie was Unlimited Hydros, and THIS BUDS FOR YOU! You will be missed!! BLUE SKIES BERNIE! Robbie

PS Bernie, Tell Bill Muncy to move over and give him a run for his money!

:( :( :( :( RIP Bernie you did a lot for the Sport and will not be forgot.

RIP with the big red hydro in the sky. :( :( :(

RIP man.... RIP

sorry to hear about the bad news, that man was into racing, it was in his blood, hope his friends and family are doing well in this troubled time
Mark

:( RIP :(

A true legend and a gentleman.
 

I met him once and he never forgot me, addressing me by name each time we met again. RIP, Bernie.

We've lost a true legend in Hydro racing. RIP.

Thoughts and prayers........:o

:( :( :( :( May God bless. The sport will miss him but he will forever be remembered.

RIP
:( :( :(

A true legend he was

:( :( :(
Very sad news- he will be greatly missed!

:( :( :(

Watching Bernie is what got me addicted to boats. He was truly a class act and will be greatly missed. :(:(

My fondest memory of Bernie...and there were many..is not of the visits to his yacht...or his fondness for flying his helicopters and various aircraft...but rather of him scurrying around the pits on a golfcart in New Orleans some years ago delivering Budweiser and Popeye's chicken to all of the race teams and giving each and everyone of us a meal, a drink, and a smile.

God Speed Bernie.

T2x

What happened to him? Was he in poor health or was this unexpected?

A true legend. Sorry to hear the news:(

Thanks for the memories Bernie! The man was truly a legend in his own time!

RIP

Bernie should be remembered for all that he has done for this sport. Showing people the proper way to do things. We should all hope to lead as full life.

HUGE loss to the sport,,, RIP Bernie,,,,,,,,,,,,, GODSPEED

Bernie Little dies at 77; owned line of Budweiser racing boats





April 27, 2003


Bernie Little, whose Miss Budweiser boats hold almost every record in Unlimited Hydroplane racing, died Friday in Lakeland, Fla. He was 77.

The cause of death was listed as complications from pneumonia, although Little underwent treatment for cancer last year.

Little became involved in unlimited racing in 1962 when he bought band leader Guy Lombardo's famous four-seat Tempo. A year later, Little – who owned three Budweiser distributorships as well as car, boat and airplane dealerships – persuaded brewing magnate Augie Busch III to sponsor his boat.

Over an uninterrupted run of 40 seasons, Miss Budweiser won a record 134 Unlimited races, 22 world championships and 14 American Power Boat Association Gold Cups. The annual San Diego-Bill Muncey Cup on Mission Bay was won 15 times by Miss Budweiser.

Little's drivers included Bill Sterett, Dean Chenoweth, Mickey Remund, Chip Hanauer, Mike Hanson and Dave Villwock.

– BILL CENTER

:(

:( :( A truly sad day for boating, and mankind in general. The guy was a class act and opitomised professional motorsports. RIP Bernie.:(

A very sad day for boat racing. Condolences to all friends, family, and those whose lives he touched. The man was a legend, on and off the race course.