Up to 140 Boats Expected to Compete in
17th Annual Lake Rescue Shoot-Out
at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO. – As many as 140 of the nation's fastest boats will converge on Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks in August for the 17th Annual Lake Rescue Shoot-Out. Boat owners will come from throughout Missouri and the nation for the Aug. 26-28 event, all trying to earn recognition as the fastest boat on the Lake.

"Powerboat Magazine has rated our Shoot-Out as the number three powerboat event in the world," noted Jeff Dorhauer, assistant chief of the Osage Beach Fire Protection District. "It's an outstanding event for participants and spectators alike. And, it raises money to make boating safer and help save lives here at the Lake."

Proceeds from the benefit event go to the water-rescue efforts of the Gravois, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach and Sunrise Beach Fire Protection Districts. Through the years, the Shoot-Out has funded a new dive/rescue/fire boat, personal flotation devices, automatic defibrillators, dive gear and other life-saving
equipment.

In addition to the Shoot-Out, activities will include a first-ever Poker Fun Run, a million-dollar hole in one golf contest, separate shoot-outs for boat sound systems and personal water craft, and a show of boat-related products.

Boats measuring at least 22 feet in length are eligible to participate in the Lake Rescue Shoot-Out. They will compete in several classes based on length, motors and bow type. Each racer will have one mile to build up speed before being clocked by radar. The times will be recorded and measured against other competitors. In effect, each boat is racing against the clock, rather than the other participants.

"We try to make the Shoot-Out better every year," Dorhauer said. "We work hard to make it a fun, safe event. Thanks to the great support we get from competitors, sponsors, vendors, volunteers and spectators, it's become one of the Lake area's most popular events -- one that benefits everyone who enjoys water recreation at the Lake of the Ozarks."

The Shoot-Out will run from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, and from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, between mile markers 20 and 22 on the Lake. The boats will run in front of the Shooters 21 restaurant, located off Hwy. 54 and Lake Road 54-56. Personal water craft owners will be timed running
the same course on Saturday morning (10:00 a.m. to noon).

First up, however, will be qualifying rounds for the hole in one golf contest, sponsored by the American Red Cross. After qualifying rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 23-24, the finals will be held at The Oaks Course at Tan-Tar-A Resort on Friday, Aug. 26 - with a prize of one million dollars awaiting a possible hole in one winner.

Other Friday festivities include a Poker Fun Run, with participants trying to build a winning poker hand as they pick up one card at each of five popular restaurant/bars. After visiting Franky & Louie's, Halfway Inn, Shooters 21, Dog Days and Bayou Bill's, players will turn in their hands to see if they're a winner. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top four hands (and the worst hand).

The fun kicks into high volume on Friday evening during the Stereo Sound System Shoot-Out at the Shooters 21 docks. From 6:00-9:30 p.m., boat owners can measure the quality and volume of their boat sound systems, with a variety of sound equipment prizes on the line. As with all the other events, the
proceeds benefit Lake area fire and rescue efforts.

Also on tap will be a products show, offering a look at the newest and best in boat-related items. The show will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Sponsors for this year's activities include Budweiser, Powerboat Magazine, Velocity Powerboats, Jack Miller Marine of North Kansas City, Epic Audio, KRMS radio, Shooters 21, Charter Communications, Tan-Tar-A Resort, and ProCharger.

For more information about the Lake Rescue Shoot-Out, visit the event's website at www.lakeshootout.com or call 573-348-1221.

The Shoot-Out is one element of the Lake of the Ozarks' year-round travel appeal. For details on all the events, activities, dining and lodging at the Lake, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE or go online to www.funlake.com.