Bernie Little Memorial

Gissberg Twin Lakes Park
Marysville, Wash.
Date Saturday, July 22, 2023
Contest Director David Heilbrunn
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.
Race Format
  • 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.
  • Winner-take-all championship finals for vintage, classic and modern.

2023 race stats

2023 Race Results

1/10 Scale Modern Class
  1. Nelson Holmberg, 2023 Bucket List Racing ^
  2. Briana Burdsall, 1988 Sutphen Spirit
     DNF Paxton Reunanen, 2019 Graham Trucking American Dream
     DNF David Newton, 2003 Miss Budweiser
     DNS David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate

1/10 Scale Classic Class
  1. Paxton Reunanen, 1983 Miss Rock KISW
  2. Chuck Murray, 1983 Miss Houston
  3. David Newton, 1976 Olympia Beer (Owner: Chuck Murray)
  4. Robbie Roberts, 1982 Miss Prodelco
     DNF Rick Evans, 1972 Notre Dame

1/10 Scale Vintage Class
  1. David Newton, 1960 Miss Thriftway (Owner: Kerry Kjos)
  2. Chuck Murray, 1955 Hawaii Kai
  3. Bill Mowatt, 1968 Miss Bardahl
  4. Jim Latimer, 1960 Miss Everett ^
  5. Paxton Reunanen, 1970 Burien Lady
1/7 Scale Modern Class
  1. Mike McIntosh, 1980 Pay 'n Pak
  2. David Heilbrunn, 2021 Goodman Real Estate
     SCR Nelson Holmberg, 2021 Graham Trucking

1/7 Scale Classic Class
  1. Rob Edwards, 1982 Gilmore Special

1/7 Scale Vintage Class
  1. David Newton, 1958 Hawaii Kai III
  2. Mike McIntosh, 1983 Miss Island Security System
  3. Bob Van den Akker, 1962 $ Bill
  4. Dennis Caines, 1968 Miss Eagle Electric

^ – Trailer boat, advanced as winner of first connie

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

1/10 Scale Classic Class Race Winners
2023 – 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

1/7 Scale Vintage Class Race Winners
2023 – 1958 Hawaii Kai III. Owner/Driver: David Newton. 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

1/7 Scale Modern Class Race Winners
2023 – 1980 Pay 'n Pak. Owner/Driver: Mike McIntosh. Location: Gissberg Twin Lakes Park, Marysville
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