From early powered boats averaging just 23 mph in the 1904 Gold Cup to turbine-powered machines exceeding 150 mph, Unlimited hydroplane racing evolved through stepped hulls, three-point designs, WWII aircraft engines, prop-riding, pickle-fork hulls, and safety innovations like enclosed canopies. At the heart of that century-long story stands Miss Budweiser: launched by Bernie Little in a 1963 handshake deal with Anheuser-Busch, the team rose from the publicity-focused “Beer Wagon” to a dominant force that won 134 races, 14 Gold Cups, and 22 championships over 42 years, pioneering technology, professionalism, and safety while becoming synonymous with the sport until its final season in 2004.
