Bernie Little Memorial

Gissberg Twin Lakes Park -- North Lake
Marysville, Wash.
Date Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
Contest Director Bob Van den Akker & Mike McIntosh
​Drivers Meeting: Approximately 9:15 a.m.
First Heat: Approximately 9:30 a.m.

Bernie Little (1926-2003) was the most successful owner in unlimited hydroplane racing history. His Miss Budweiser team won 134 of the 354 races it entered. Miss Budweiser won the high points championship 22 years in 40 years of competition, and the APBA Gold Cup 14 times.

His first victory came on the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities in 1966 at the Columbia Cup. Little's team is also known for making an enclosed driver's cockpit to improve driver safety. Little has been inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1994.

Bernie supported RC hydroplane racing across the country for many years, and even sponsored R/C Unlimited fo a few years. His significant contributions to the sport will never be forgotten. Due to shortening the ERCU racing schedule to 10 races in 2019, the Bernie Little Memorial was put on hiatus and brought back for the 2023 racing season.

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Race Format

• POINTS RACE: Winners of vintage classes will be determined by the most cumulative points earned during the course of the day.
• In ALL OTHER CLASSES, winners will be determined by winner-take-all final heats
• Three preliminary heats of five laps each for vintage, classic and modern classes
• First and second connies for both classes (depending on boat count and attrition). Second connie winner advances to first connie as a trailer. First connie winner advances to the final as a trailer.
• Second place boat in the first connie is an alternate for the final.
• Finals for vintage, classic and modern.
• Classic Triple Crown Series event #3

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2026 race stats

2026 Race Results

1/10 Scale Modern Class

1. Riley Christy, 1992 Smokin' Joe's
2. Mike Dunn, 2011 Miss Albert Lee
3. David Newton, 2006 Miss Emcor
4. Brian Perkins, 2016 All-Access Rentals

    DNF Nelson Holmberg, 2015 Graham Trucking ^
    DNF Chuck Clendenen, 1991 Winston Eagle

1/10 Scale Classic Class

1. Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW
2. David Newton, 1971 Country Boy (Owner: Tom Markos)
3. Jim Latimer, 1986 Horizon Air
4. Wayne Beeson, 1978 Miss Mark & Pak

    DNF Nelson Holmberg, 1986 Squire Shop Brittania
    DNS Jim Hagan, 1984 American Speedy Printing

1/10 Scale Vintage Class

1. Paxton Reunanen, 1965 Gales Roostertail
2. Jerry Dunlap, 1964 Miss Exide
3. Wayne Beeson, 1967 Gales Roostertail
4. Bill Smiley, 1955 Miss Thriftway

    DNF Chuck Murray, 1968 Miss Smirnoff ^
    DNF David Heilbrunn, 1965 Blue Chip

1/7 Scale Modern Class

1. Paxton Reunanen, 2023 Beacon Plumbing
2. John Sjostrom, 2003 Miss Chrysler Jeep
3. David Heilbrunn, 2024 Goodman Real Estate
4. John Havens Jr., 1991 American Spirit

1/7 Scale Classic Class

1. Gale Whitestine, 1975 Weisfields
2. Mike McIntosh, 1973 Red Man
3. Wayne Beeson, 1978 Miss Mark & Pak ^

    DNF Mike Gossler, 1977 Squire
    DNF Craig Mullen, 1971 Pride of Pay 'n Pak
    DNS Scott Whitestine, 1972 Notre Dame

1/7 Scale Vintage Class

1. Paxton Reunanen, 1982 Miss Island Security Systems
2. David Heilbrunn, 1965 Blue Chip
3. John Havens Jr., 1962 Miss U.S. 1
4. Mark Manchester, 1966 Notre Dame ^

     DNF Ron Manchester, 1960 Miss Spokane
     DNF Scott Whitestine, 1962 Notre Dame

^ – Trailer boat

bernie little memorial all-time results

1/10 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2004 – 1957 Maverick. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2005 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2006 –1968 Miss Bardahl. Owner: Roger Newton. Driver: David Newton. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2007 – 1969 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2008 – 1972 Miss Timex. Owner/Driver: Jason Hartley. Location: Pipe Lake, Cherokee Bay, Maple Valley
2009 – 1972 Miss Timex. Owner/Driver: Jason Hartley. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2010 – 1972 Miss Van's PX. Owner/Driver: Mark Hansen. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2011 – 1957 Hawaii Kai III. Owner: Ben Keller. Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Lake Tye Park, Monroe
2012 –1960 Miss Burien. Owner/Driver: Robbie Roberts. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2013 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2014 – 1961 Thunderbolt. Owner/Driver: Steve Dumanis. Location: Pipe Lake, Cherokee Bay, Maple Valley
2015 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Alice Joy, Snohomish
2016 – 1971 Miss Madison. Owner/Driver: Ron Forister. Location: Lake Waughop, Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
2017 – No race
2018 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner/Driver: Kerry Kjos. Location: Lake Waughop, Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
2023 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1960 Miss Thriftway. Owner: Kerry Kjos. Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview
2025 – 1964 Miss Exide. Owner/Driver: Jerry Dunlap. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 1965 Gales Roostertail. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville

1/10 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2023 – 1983 Miss Rock, KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1983 Miss Rock, KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview
2025 – 1983 Miss Rock, KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 1983 Miss Rock, KISW. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville

1/10 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2004 – 1974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2005 – 1970 Pride of Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Jeff Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2006 – 1974 Country Boy. Owner/Driver: Mike Campbell. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2007 – 1972 Notre Dame. Owner/Driver: Mark Hansen. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2008 – 1978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler. Location: Pipe Lake, Cherokee Bay, Maple Valley
2009 – 1978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2010 – 1978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler. Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue
2011 – 1978 Miss Circus Circus. Owner/Driver: Mike Gossler. Location: Lake Tye Park, Monroe
2012 – 2010 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Craig Bradshaw. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2013 – 2013 Graham Trucking. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2014 – 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth. Location: Pipe Lake, Cherokee Bay, Maple Valley
2015 – 1999 Miss Madison. Owner: Ron Forister. Driver: Walter Roberts. Location: Lake Alice Joy, Snohomish
2016 – 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto. Owner/Driver: Brad Lewis. Location: Lake Waughop. Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
2017 – No race
2018 – 2011 Valken. Owner/Driver: JimmeJames Cusworth Location: Lake Waughop. Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
2023 – 2023 Bucket List Racing Team. Owner/Driver: Nelson Holmberg. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview
2025 – 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 1992 Smokin' Joe's. Owner: Chuck Clendenen. Driver: Riley Christy. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville

1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2023 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: David Newton. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 1982 Island Security Systems. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview
2025 – 1982 Island Security Systems. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 1982 Island Security Systems. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville

1/7 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2023 – 1982 Gilmore Special. Owner/Driver: Rob Edwards. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 1975 Weisfields. Owner/Driver: Gale Whitestine. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville

1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2023 – 1980 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2024 – 2023 Beacon Plumbing. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview
2025 – 2010 Peters & May. Owner/Driver: Tyler McKeon. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
2026 – 2023 Beacon Plumbing. Owner/Driver: Paxton Reunanen. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville