The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published August 13, 2014

Week-long annual Shootout event begins Aug. 15

By Jeff Thompson
LAKE OF THE OZARKS - The 26th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout will be a week-long racing event starting with the Mini-Shootout August 15-17 and ending with the official offshore power boat races August 23-24.

The event is the largest unsanctioned boat race in Midwest, according to the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, and will benefit a number of area rescue teams and charitable organizations.

Captain Ron's Bar & Grill in Sunrise Beach will once again play host to the majority of Shootout events which actually begin August 13 with the Shootout Beach Ball party for volunteers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Other events include:
* Monday, August 18 - The Great Shootout Treasure Hunt at Captain Ron's;
* Tuesday, August 19 - Shootout Volleyball Tournament and the 1st annual Shootout Pontoon Poke Run;
* Wednesday, August 20 - Shootout in the Park at the Laurie Fairgrounds, Vendor Booth and Racer Village set-up at Buccaneer Bay;
* Thursday, August 21 - Shootout PWC Dam Run from Surdyke Yamaha to Truman Dam and back to Shorty Pants, First National Bank "Make-A-Wish" Powerboat rides, Meet & Greet with racers, Shootout Hall of Fame Dinner;
* Friday, August 22 - Poly Lift Poker Run with registration and start at Backwater Jacks, Racer Village and Vendor Booths open to public, On-Site Registration and Safety Inspections & Class Identifications on Dock 4 and Cannonball Beach;
* Saturday, August 23 - PWC Classes Run, Opening Ceremony and National Anthem, racing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Drag Race at 1:55 p.m., and a Missing Man flyover in honor of Brad Smith at 3:50 p.m.; and
* Sunday, August 24 - Racing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Missing Man flyover in honor of Steve Tripp at 11:50 a.m., Drag Race at 1:55 p.m. and Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m.

The annual event has had over 100 racers at one time and 100,000 spectators showed up to watch the thundering powerboats last year.

The Shootout began in 1988 as an event in which many local boats participated simply to establish who had the fastest boat, according to event organizers.

It grew every year, helping to raise funds for lake area water rescue teams. In later events the fundraising mandate expanded to include a number of lake area organizations including Dogwood Animal Shelter, CADV, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Habitat For Humanity.

For more information and a complete schedule of events and times, go online to www.lakeoftheozarksshootout.org or call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau at 573-348-1599.