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Bigger than Life
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‘King
of Boats’ remembered for his drive, hard
work and his talent for enjoying life
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Photo
courtesy Anheuser-Busch
Bernie
Little, 1925 – 2003
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By
Ruth Wright
Staff Writer
(July 2003) – What Elvis was to rock-and-roll, Bernie Little
was to boat racing.
For 40 years, Little championed Unlimited hydroplane racing,
becoming the winningest owner in the sport’s history with
his Anheuser-Busch-sponsored “Miss Budweiser” team.
From 1963 to 2002, Little’s team captured 134 victories
plus 22 Unlimited hydroplane world and national championships.
“The King of Boats,” as Little was known, died on
April 25, 2003, but his legacy in the world of Unlimited hydroplane
racing lives on.
“We’ll never replace his character, his emotion, his
exuberance – and his anger,” said veteran “Miss
Bud” driver Dave Villwock during a June 17 media teleconference.
“But hopefully the future will be an extension and, in
fact, a part of his immortality.”
Born in McComb, Ohio, on Oct. 7, 1925, Little’s formative
years were no indication of his future success. The son of a
grocer whose business suffered through the Great Depression,
Little made it through the eighth grade in school before economic
necessity cut his education short. Little went to work doing
various odd jobs, and in 1943 at age 17 he met and married Jane
Cunningham. Shortly after the marriage, Little joined the U.S.
Navy and served in World War II. After the war, Little and his
wife settled in Florida.
Bernie
Little’s Unlimited
Hydroplane Racing Career
1962:
Little acquires first hydroplane boat, the four-seat
“Tempo.”
1963: Little’s first season in Unlimited
hydroplane racing, running “Tempo.”
1964: Little’s first year with “Miss
Budweiser,” sponsored by Anheuser-Busch.
1966: Little captures first victory with “Miss
Budweiser.”
1969: Little wins first Gold Cup and National
High Points Championship with “Miss Budweiser.”
1970: Little’s “Miss Bud-weiser,”
driven by Dean Chenoweth, wins its first Madison Regatta.
1977: Little’s boats, “Miss Budweiser”
and “Anheuser-Busch Natural Light,” take
first and second place at the Madison Regatta.
1985: Little and crew chief Jeff Neff introduce
the first enclosed cockpit unlimited hydroplane, the
“Bubble” Bud.
1986: Little converts “Miss Budweiser”
to Lycoming turbine power; first to use F-16 safety
canopy.
1994: Little honored with “Horatio Alger
Award” & honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
degree (Missouri Valley College)
2000: Little & friend Gary Garbrecht form
Hydro-Prop, Inc. to administer Unlimited hydroplane
racing in the future; Little’s “Miss Budweiser”
wins six of seven races on schedule.
2002: Little’s 134th and final “Miss
Budweiser” race victory at the 2002 General Motors
Cup on Seattle’s Lake Washington.
Miss Budweiser Madison Regatta victories: 1970,
1977, 1980-81, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992-94, 1997-98,
2000.
American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup
titles: 1969-70, 1973, 1980-81, 1989-90, 1992-93,
1995, 1997-98, 2002.
Miss Budweiser Driver Victories (1966-2002):
Dave Villwock (30), 1997-02
Dean Chenoweth (23), 1970-82
Jim Kropfeld (22), 1983-1989
Chip Hanauer (22), 1992-95
Tom D‚Eath (12), 1988-1990
Mickey Remund (6), 1975-77
Bill Sterett (5), 1968-1969
Howie Benns (3), 1974
Scott Pierce (3), 1991
Bill Brow (2), 1966
Mark Evans (2), 1996
Mike Thomas (1), 1967
Ron Snyder (1), 1978
Mike Hanson (1), 1994
Mark Weber (1), 1997
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Little’s determination and keen business sense resulted
in his success in aircraft and transportation sales in the
Sunshine State. His love of adventure and aviation also led
to an exciting career as a stunt pilot with the All-Miami
Air Show.
In 1962, Little’s interests turned toward Unlimited hydroplanes.
That year, he traded his cabin cruiser for his first race
boat, the four-seat “Tempo.” With that, Little was
hooked, and in 1963 he entered the boat racing sport on a
limited basis.
At that time, a chance meeting with Anheuser-Busch magnate
August Busch III provided an unexpected opportunity for Little.
The two met when Busch chartered a plane from Little for a
trip to the Bahamas, said APBA Unlimited hydroplane historian
Fred Farley.
“Bernie had just acquired his Unlimited hydroplane, which
Busch happened to see,” said Farley, who resides in Milton,
Ky. “He ended up taking Busch for a ride,” and the
rest, as they say, is history.
The two men quickly became friends, and Busch arranged for
his company to back Little’s race boat, beginning the
longest and most successful sponsorship in history.
With financial support from Anheuser-Busch, Little’s
“Miss Budweiser” quickly moved to the forefront
of Unlimited hydroplane racing. The team captured its first
victory in 1966 and by 1969 had garnered its first Gold Cup
and National High Points Championship.
The following year, the “Miss Budweiser,” driven
by Dean Chenoweth, won its first Madison Regatta. Since then,
Little’s “Miss Bud” has captured 12 additional
Madison Regatta victories.
Past Regatta president (1980, 1984) Jack Lemm remembered Little’s
presence in Madison throughout the years. “He and I were
pretty good friends, and I always looked forward to seeing
him every year,” Lemm said.
Although Little traveled the full race circuit with the team,
many locals say that the Madison venue had a special place
in his heart. “He always thought that Madison was one
of the best of all the race sites,” said last year’s
Regatta president Tony Steinhardt. “He loved to bring
his family here.”
Denny Jackson, a three-time Regatta president (1989, 1994,
1999), agreed. “I think he genuinely liked (Madison),”
said Jackson of Milton, Ky.
“I think this is one of the race sites they could come
to and kind of let their hair down a little bit,” Jackson
said about Little and his family, who usually traveled with
him.
Steinhardt, who in addition to being a past Regatta president
managed the Miss Madison team for several years, also remembered
Little for his kindness and generosity. Steinhardt said his
race team sometimes borrowed parts from Little when his community-sponsored
team was low on funds.
“Whenever I needed a part, I could just ask Bernie and
he would give us what he could,” Steinhardt said.
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Photo
by Don Ward
Bernie
Little with Budweiser driver Dave Villwock.
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And when the Madison Regatta faced lean years, it was Little
who helped make sure that Anheuser-Busch came through with
sponsorship. “If it wasn’t for Bernie and Budweiser,
a couple of years ago we would have had a difficult time,”
said Steinhardt, who asked for Little’s financial assistance
to stage the Madison race.
Lemm also recalled Little’s support. “He helped
us several times,” said Lemm. “He’d get us
another $10,000, $15000 or $20,000, which helped a lot at
different times. He always came through for us when we were
down and out.”
For some, the Madison Regatta will seem a little different
this year without Little’s powerful presence. “I
really don’t think, for me, personally, the Regatta will
be the same without Bernie being around,” said Jackson.
But despite the loss of a patriarch and icon, the “Miss
Budweiser” Unlimited hydroplane team will return to Madison
on its full-circuit tour this year. In May, the team announced
that Little’s youngest son, Joe Little, would take over
ownership responsibilities.
“Dad put the procedures and processes in place so that
the team could continue, even when he was no longer able to
run things,” said Little during a May teleconference.
“I can’t be my dad,” Little continued. “I
can only be myself. My goal is to provide the best leadership,
direction and support to the team so we can continue to win
races and show value to our great sponsor, Anheuser-Busch.”
Joe Little, 45, is also the president of Bernie Little Distributors,
a Florida Anheuser-Busch distributorship, and the vice president
of Hydroplanes Inc.
Dave Villwock, who has been racing Unlimited hydroplanes since
1992, will continue this year as team driver and manager.
According to Villwock, the team will be ready for top competition
this season.
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Photo
by Don Ward
Bernie
and Jane Little at the
2000 Madison Regatta.
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“This Budweiser team is here to compete. Bernie Little
never taught us how to play defense, and Joe Little is working
from the same playbook, so we won’t,” Villwock said
during the May teleconference.
“Every heat and every race will be run with the goal
of victory. We want to win, pure and simple.” Villwock
has captured 30 wins for the Miss Budweiser team since he
began driving for Little in 1997. He has won three Madison
Regatta titles and survived a blowover on the Ohio River a
few years ago.
Villwock and the U-1 “Miss Budweiser” team will
face defending Madison Regatta champion Nate Brown, driver
of the U-16 Miss Elam Plus, on the July 4-6 race weekend.
It will be the team’s 40th consecutive appearance in
the annual southeastern Indiana Unlimited hydroplane competition.
“We can’t replace Bernie, but he wouldn’t want
us walking around looking at our feet and kicking rocks,”
Villwock said.
“He would want us to go out and be all we can be, and
that’s what we are going to do this season.”
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