LAKE HAMILTON, Fla. — The Martini & Rossi Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Unlimited Hydroplane National Championship Owner, will be renamed the Bernie Little High Point World Championship Trophy for the 2002 season. Little is the owner of the Miss Budweiser team, which has won 21 world titles since he began campaigning the Miss Budweiser boat 30 years ago.

The Martini & Rossi Trophy was donated to the APBA by the late Count Theo Rossi di Montelera, head of the Italian vermouth industry, who won the 1938 APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River with ALAGI. The trophy has been awarded every year since to the owner whose team wins the High Point Championship in the American Power Boat Association Unlimited Class.

"Bernie has been instrumental in the sport of Unlimited Hydroplane racing for more than 40 years," said Gary Garbrecht, president of HYDRO-PROP, which organizes and promotes Unlimited hydroplane and Formula One tunnel-boat racing events. "Renaming the Martini and Rossi trophy in honor of Bernie is the least we can do for a man who has dedicated his life to Unlimited Hydroplane racing."