Lake Rescue Shoot Out Brings Fast Boats
to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO --Which boat is the Top Gun – or fastest boat – at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks?  Find out Aug. 25-26 at the 19th annual Lake Rescue Shoot-Out. The largest unsanctioned boat race in the nation and the third-ranked powerboat event in the world (according to Powerboat Magazine), the Shoot-Out raises funds for life-saving equipment for Lake-area fire protection districts including Osage Beach, Lake Ozark, Sunrise Beach and Gravois, and the American Red Cross.

“Powerboat Magazine recently noted that for 19 years our race has stayed the same, compared to other racing organizations that change the rules year to year.  That’s because our concept is simple: Put your boat in the water and see what it can do in a mile,” says Chief Jeff Dorhauer of the Osage Beach Fire Protection District.  “The drivers love coming here and meeting the fans.  There’s no pressure like you have in a sanctioned race.  It’s a great time for everyone and best of all, it raises money to make boating safer and help save lives at the Lake.”

Boats will run in front of Shooters 21 Restaurant, located off Hwy. 54 and Lake Road 54-56 in Osage Beach.  Boats measuring at least 22 feet in length are eligible to participate. Shoot-Out competitions are held in more than 50 boat classes based on length, hull design, and size and number of motors.  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.  As a result, each boat races against the clock, not other participants.

Last year, 112 competitors raced and the Top Gun winners at 208 mph were Dave Callan and John Cosker of Callan Marine, Daytona, Fla., which also took top honors in 2006, 2005 and 2003.  Dorhauer estimates about 30,000 spectators enjoyed the race last year and he’s expecting up to 40,000 this year.  “The majority of them are on the water,” Dorhauer says.  “It’s quite a sight to see hundreds of boats lined up next to each other in row after row for three miles!”

The Shoot-Out will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  All races will take place between mile markers 20 and 22 on the Lake.  Winners will be announced shortly after 5:00 p.m. Sunday.  All competitors must register and pay the $50 entry fee between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Friday at Shooters 21.

New this year, the third annual Lake Rescue Shoot-Out Poker Fun Run will be held two days instead of one – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, and Friday, Aug. 24.  Participants will try to build a winning Five Card Stud poker hand with cards they will pick up at lakeside businesses including Shooters 21, Shorty Pants, Topsider, Shady Gators, Halfway Inn and Dog Days.  The $100 per-hand entry fee also will include an awards dinner and silent auction on Friday night at Shooters 21.  Cash prizes will be awarded for the top four hands and the worst hand.  Registration will be held 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday, at Shooters 21.  There’s no limit to the number of hands that can be played.  “Last year we had 100 boats in the Poker Run and we hope to have more this year since participants will have two days to play,” Dorhauer says.

Other Shoot-Out activities will add to the excitement of the event.  The thrilling PWC race will take place 10:00 a.m.-noon Saturday. The popular Boat Products Show will be held at Shooters 21 from noon to 5:00 p.m. Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.  And boat owners can win prizes based on the quality and volume of their boat’s sound system at the Stereo Sound System Shoot-Out, 7:00 p.m. Friday at Shady Gators.  A few days later, the 144-mile “Dam Run” will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 29.  Proceeds from all of these activities will benefit Lake-area fire and rescue efforts.

Also, during Sunday’s Shoot-Out, Lucas Oil’s “On the Edge” cable-TV show that airs on Speed TV will be filming for a program to be broadcast later in the year.  “This is huge for us,” Dorhauer says.  “It’s great exposure for the area.”  And at noon Saturday and 11:00 a.m. Sunday, Go Fast Sports will present Jet Pack World Record Holder Eric Scott in a breathtaking leap from the 3rd story of Shooters 21 onto a boat.

Sponsors of the 2007 Lake Rescue Shoot-Out will be Budweiser, Powerboat Magazine, Velocity Powerboats, Epic Audio, KRMS Radio, Shooters 21, Charter Communications, Tan-Tar-A Resort and Hawaiian Tropic.

“Last year after we paid all the bills we had slightly more than $80,000 to purchase water rescue equipment we would not have been able to afford otherwise,” Dorhauer says.  “That’s what makes the Lake Rescue Shoot-Out a very important event, as well as one of the Lake’s most anticipated events of the year.”

For more information about the Lake Rescue Shoot-Out, call 573-348-1221 or visit the event web site at www.lakeshootout.com. And for more information about lodging, dining, attractions, events and more throughout the Lake area, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention &Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit the Bureau’s web site at www.funlake.com.