Bernie Little and Saftey Canopy

[Tomtall]

Our friend Fred Farley is one of the most noted historians of Inboard racing there is. He has done hundreds of articles on the sport. This one of Freds was in the 1991 Evansville Freedom Festival "Thunder on The Ohio"
racing program. Fred tells of the sports most inovative thinkers in the unlimited catigory, Bernie Little, and his idea of the saftey canopy. The rest is history!

[hydroc888]

I had never seen that article and didnt know how the canopys in unlimiteds evolved till now. I do remember the Bud boat being the first but had not followed racing that year to find out why.
The article was very hard to read for an old man with tired eyes but well worth the effort.
I hope that the youngsters take the time to read this article and it might help explain to them why they are in cut suits now instead of tee shirts like in my day , and very high quality life jackets, and the best of helmets.I have old pics. of us racing in the over your head , tie around your waist " Coast Guard approved" jackets.
I know this isnt the right tread but I like the looks of the round nose pickle forks in another thread better then the sharp nose pickles.

[John Howe]

I saw the "Mr. Pringles" and the "Bud" collied, as stated in that article. Afterwards, back in the pits, I saw the damaged "Bud" on the trailer. No doubt the "Mr. Pringles" prop/rudder did cut across the center of the cockpit of the "Bud". The two prior times that I witnessed such collisions, in limited inboard hydros, then without capsules, resulted in death to the drivers. No doubt, though badly injured, the capsule saved Jim Kropfield`s life. I think that must be an older article, as there is an error in it. Several years ago George Stratton lost his life while testing a back up capsuled "Bud" boat in San Diego. Capsules aren`t perfect, but the mortality rate has indeed dropped since they became mandatory in many categories.