The need for speed grows stronger with age. Since the first Shootout in 1989, the spirit of the race has swelled, bringing more boaters and fans into the thrill of the race.
Before there was a Shootout, local boaters gathered in places like “Six-Mile Cove.” They would boast about speed, each confident his boat was the fastest at the Lake of the Ozarks. Drag boats and jet boats, flat bottom, inboard and V-drives - boat enthusiasts of all kinds tied up and partied. The bragging would inevitably culminate in a race. A couple of boats would pair up to prove who was really the fastest. Surrounded by a cheering crowd, confident boaters would make their way to a cove and race - illegally. Sometimes it was Ford vs. Chevy; other times Scarab vs. Fountain. There were no advertisements, no helmets and no race officials. It was spontaneous, and whoever showed up would race just for fun. The two-seater jet boats could get up to an impressive 100 mph. However, as the Lake’s population grew, the Missouri Water Patrol put an end to the impromptu races.
But the local guys wanted to race. So the Shootout was born. Originally named The Lake Rescue Shootout, its organizers were Carmen Netoli, Fran Steingrubey, John Page and Kevin Hurtuibise.
Though the name has since changed, the spirit of benevolence has endured. The Shootout has always been centered upon helping people; since its inception, the event has benefited local charities. The Shootout’s first home was the Shooters 21 Restaurant and Marina on the 21-mile marker. There were classes for competitors of all kinds, with the minimum boat length set at 22 feet. But within each class, all were welcome. Amateurs challenged professionals. Anyone could vie for the bragging rights of being “the fastest boat on the Lake.”
“It was neat to go out in a safe environment and watch some of the fastest boats you normally would never get to see,” 2012 Shootout Race Coordinator Kent Morris said. “We spent the afternoon relaxing in our boat with friends, listening to the speeds on the radio. I remember when the top speed was 130 mph and then they did 150; we thought ‘wow!.’ “Then we saw a hydroplane run 200 mph. It was amazing!”
Originally the event lasted two days: Saturday was for practice, Sunday was for speed. Racers would run to the end of the course, turn around, and come back, with both runs timed. Only a few boats would top 100 mph. Now the race is a one-mile, one-way, straight course.
As the Shootout grew, so did the caliber of the boats in the race. Eventually, racers were cruising past 200 mph. No longer a local race, the Shootout turned into an international event, bringing boaters from 30 states and several countries each year. Much of this has been attributed to local marina owner and powerboat racer Bob Morgan. Morgan’s relationship with top-notch racers expanded the scope of the Shootout. Powerboat Magazine came aboard in 2002, further expanding the Shootout’s reach. It is now the largest unsanctioned boat race in the United States, having been voted the No. 1 boat race/shootout in the country by Powerboat Magazine readers two years in a row. The magazine also lists it as one of eight must-see boating events. Official speeds at the new Captain Ron’s course have hit 208 mph each of the last two years. Former Shootout race coordinator and Osage Beach Fire District Fire Chief Jeff Dorhauer marveled at the growth of the event. “We just wanted to race,” he said. “We never dreamed it would become what it is today.”
Classifications were modified each year with the number of classes growing from 10 to 60. Classes are determined by boat length, hull design, motor size, and number of motors. With the rapid advances in boating technology, Shootout officials must frequently analyze, assess, add and reorganize classes.
In 1995, the fire department officially took over the Shootout. Funds raised by the event were used to purchase water rescue equipment for the Osage Beach, Lake Ozark, and Sunrise Beach fire department water rescue teams. In an attempt to entice state involvement, organizers renamed it “The Governor’s Cup.” According to Dorhauer, the governor balked at an official endorsement, refusing to be photographed with bikini-clad women. The event name was officially changed again in 1997 to The Lake Fire Rescue Shootout.
In 1996 the Gravois and Mid-County Fire Districts joined the Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, and Lake Ozark Fire Districts. Every year new fire departments, charities and deserving organizations were added. In 2011 eight fire districts and more than 10 organizations benefitted from the Shootout. Dorhauer remained heavily involved throughout the years when the fire department organized the event. “Every year on Sunday night we would be so exhausted we swore we would never do it again, but we always did,” Dorhauer said.
The biggest thrill of the Shootout is the finish line. That is where the top speeds are hit. “A boat that is planed out and running right, with a driver that has just enough courage to push the limit, as you hear the motors roaring, and you see the rooster tail fly and you see the boat sitting perfectly parallel to the water. That is a beautiful and magnificent thing to see,” Dorhauer said.
“I enjoyed the challenge and being busy with the Shootout,” he said. “The hardest thing was having to walk away. Shooters 21 closed and it was demolished to build a subdivision. We had to find a new place for the race and I couldn’t be in charge anymore.” At the same time, the Osage Beach Fire District’s emergency calls were skyrocketing. “I just couldn’t do both,” Dorhauer said.
Enter Ron Duggan, owner of Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill in Sunrise Beach.
A successful event and business entrepreneur, Ron wanted to bring the Shootout to the Lake’s west side. Duggan gave his presentation to the Shootout Board, and they were convinced. “It was obvious it would be a good fit,” Dorhauer said. The entire west side community rallied behind the move. This was the perfect solution and it would keep the millions of tourism dollars coming by adding another holiday weekend. Though he and his crew are still involved in the Shootout, transferring the event to Duggan’s leadership finally allowed Dorhauer and the Osage Beach Fire District to “get back to what we do, and that is protecting life and property.” For Dorhauer, those hectic years will always be a great memory because of the individuals involved in its coordination. “I miss all the people the most,” Dorhauer said.
Before the race moved to the west side, the Shootout record-holders were Dave Callan and John Cosker. In 2006, the pair set an incredible course record of 208 mph, pushing it to 209 mph the following year. Dorhauer calls Callan the most memorable person he has met at the Shootout. “His 209 mph run was so courageous. It was awesome to see him running down the lake at 209 mph. He puts his heart and soul into breaking his own speed record every year,” said Dorhauer. “The first year Callan raced in the Shootout he beat Dave Scott after he dominated the course for five years in a row. It was very much unexpected,” Dorhauer said. Scott was sponsored by Budweiser and reined as Top Gun for eight years.
In 2008, the Shootout took its last name change as Ron Duggan took the helm. Dubbed the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, it was moved to the 34 mile marker on the west side of the Lake. Duggan describes the race as a, “Week-long festival in an Ozarks family atmosphere with more than 100 booths showcasing area businesses and organizations, a racer village and dock access for interaction with the racers and race teams.” Today more than 80,000 fans watch the two-day race by land and water. The event has grown to include more than week’s worth of activities: A poker run, a golf tournament, a remote-control mini shootout, a treasure hunt, an auction, a strip party, a PWC dam run and a stereo shootout.
On the water, the Shootout is a huge party with boats tied together along the racecourse. Spectators watch and swim as they cheer for their favorite racers and hear the thunder of the boats rushing by. Others opt to board the Celebration Cruise, while landlubbers watch the race at Captain Ron’s restaurant on closed-circuit television.
Amidst the changing years, the Shootout continues to raise significant funds for local charities, and to supply the rescue team with diving equipment. In 2011, the Shootout raised more than $70,570, compared to $70,000 in 2010, $50,877 in 2009 and $41,000 in 2008. “If it weren’t for the Shootout, our dive team would not be able to function,” said Mid County Dive Team Captain Jim Wilson. The cost of racing is significant, and there is no purse for the victor, other than the internationally coveted Top Gun bragging rights. “We just need to be sure we stay on course. I have been to races in Key West, Detroit and Las Vegas and no one draws the racers or the crowds like we do,” said Dorhauer. In a testament to the event’s superiority, the organizers of the Gold Cup at one time unsuccessfully asked Shootout officials to change the event date, which conflicted with the historic Detroit event. Apparently all their fans were coming to the Shootout instead.
A record number of more than 100,000 fans witnessed the 2011 Shootout. A record of 493 volunteers - a number that has dramatically grown over the years - donated 5,727 hours toward charity.
Since moving to the west side, the event has given attendees a more complete picture of the Lake of the Ozarks with a Shootout activity held in every city around the lake during the two-week celebration of powerboating.
“The Shootout throws in one more great holiday-like weekend before Labor Day,” said Race Coordinator Kent Morris. Besides showcasing the Lake to the world and helping worthy charities, the Shootout brings revenue to local businesses. According to Tri County Lodging Association, the Shootout brings between $5 and $6 million to the Lake economy.
“We are expecting the Shootout to grow and get bigger and better every year,” Ron Duggan said.
In 2011, for the first time in three years, a new champion was crowned. Canadian Bill Tomlinson and Ken Kehoe hit 208 mph in the turbine-powered Mystic named “My Way.” It ran eight times, tying the course record of 208 mph on three different runs. When Tomlinson runs My Way this year, many predict he will set new records. “I would bet money he will blow 208 out of the water this year,” Shootout Board President Mark Maasen said.
