Bio-Kleen Parked @ Captian Rons

Finally, the day had come to witness the largest unsanctioned racing event of the season. What started as a friendly battle among lake residents to see who had the fastest machine on the water has become known by many as the fourth holiday weekend of the summer. Today, professionals and amateurs compete against each other and clock their speeds for the Top Gun honor. Boats more than 22 feet in length are allowed to run in classes by length, hull design, size of motors and number of motors. Proceeds from the Shootout benefit the Lake-area rescue teams, Habitat for Humanity and other charitable organizations.

Mikes Thunder Marine @ Dock

The temperatures are the highest we’ve seen yet since heading into Missouri and the day looks like it should shape up to be beautiful, calm and sunny. The day is sure to be action packed. A majority of the buzz around the lake is of course centered around last years Top Gun winner; David Scott and his 50ft Mystic racer with throttle man John Tomlinson (then sponsored by Bud Light). The crowd is also quite intrigued to see if the Miss Geico boat will be on the list of competitors this year. The boat passed up the Shootout last year for another race, but up to this point has been seen as Scott and Tomlinson’s biggest competition.

Other Characters @ Shootout 2009

There’s also a lot of hype about a brand new addition to the Shootout, a head-on-head drag race; two boats running down the course at one time. One world class racer and well known lake member, Bob Morgan, is an advocate for the drag style boat race for the shootout. He’s finally gotten his wish for 2009 as race officials have approved the head-on-head competition. Bob Morgan himself in the Bad Moon Risin boat will go nose to nose with Bob Bull in the CMS boat. The talk is they’re scheduled for the best of three races.

Nauti Marine's Saturday Shootout Run

Dave Scott and Nauti Marine, 2008 Top Gun, holder of multiple world speed records, nearly a dozen national titles and almost as many world titles, is the team to try and beat this year at the Shootout. For the past eight years, Scott and all the Nauti Marine boats have raced under Anheuser Busch sponsorship. About this time last year InBev, the new owners of Anheuser Busch, announced they were no longer interested in sponsoring powerboat racing; which left the team looking for sponsorship elsewhere. Instead, Scott decided to race under his own Nauti Marine banner.

Last year Scott intended to race the Mystic fueled with methanol, but on the Thursday before race weekend a motor broke. So they spent the night changing the out the methanol motors back to gasoline. Obviously things did work out for them, still holding onto Top Gun status. They’ve still been testing methanol motors and plan on running the two 2,400-hp New Century alcohol-fueled engines for the Shootout this year.

The Nauti Marine boat seemed to be off to a great start on their first run on Saturday; but 2/3 of the way down the course something goes wrong. There’s a noticeable change in the sound of the motors and the output of the boat. They seem to blow another motor, but still finish the run with an impressive speed somewhere in the 160′s I believe.

CMS & Bad Moon Risin Drag

There was much more action for the day from the racers and the crowds. We captured video not only of the Nauti Marine first run, but impressive runs from Flight Club, the Mercedes Boat, D&M Motorsports, Mikes Thunder Marine, Shogren, Bob Bull and the CMS boat in a single run and the first drag between CMS and Bob Morgan in the Bad Moon Risin boat. CMS starts the head-to-head race out in front, but about mid way Bad Moon Risin easily coasts by. From our view it looks as if Morgan leaves Bull deep in his wake. Turns out it was close to a photo finish. The final details are debatable, but the word is this first race goes to Bob Morgan and Bad Moon Risin.

It was a great start to the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009. Beautiful weather, hot enough for the passengers of the hundreds of rafting boats to enjoy the water. Great speeds and action from the racers along with a few new twists. The opening day was not without its challenges though. There were multiple runs tainted with radar issues; forcing the racers to possibly fore-fit a great speed and run again later. There were also some staging issues, not allowing them to pack in all the desired runs for the day and sometimes moving at a slow pace in between runs.

Fire Rescue Team Lends a Hand

Then there’s the broken, wavy line of rafting boats that zig-zags the border of the entire course and then some. It’s really the only way to stay put safely with all those boats, but the number of boats with 30ft anchor lines in 75ft+ water definitely outweighed those that were prepared. Put that amount of boats and weight on not enough anchor and your bound to drag. And drag they did… into the course enough times the police and fire patrols had to discipline and assist the boats back out of the course boundaries or the race would not go on. Thankfully they do their jobs well and the spectators were very receptive. After all, everybody’s there to watch the boats and have a good time and if the boats can’t run there’s no race, and it’s all over for everyone.

Saturday had some smooth runs and good speeds, but there’s still a lot more in store for the final day of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009.

• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Wednesday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Thursday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Friday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Saturday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Sunday
• Bio-Kleen Shootout YouTube Videos
• Bio-Kleen Shootout Flickr Pictures
• Bio-Kleen Facebook Pictures
• Bio-Kleen MySpace Pictures

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The sunshine and clear skies came out just in time to view the expansive wind power project south of Joliet, IL. The project must still be in the early stages as none of the massive turbines that were scattered across acres of soybean and corn fields were not yet turning. There must have been nearly 60+ already erected and more on the way. You could see large cranes in the distance piecing together these green energy giants. They seemed so small and fragile in the distance across the farm lands. That was until we bore witness to a single blade being hauled in on an extra long semi tractor trailer, the longest I’ve ever seen. That really put the size of the turbines and the project into perspective.

Down the freeway we learned just how skilled a crop dusting pilot must be. We first saw a small, single engine plane flying very close to the horizon. About a mile later the plane was just over the freeway, facing oncoming traffic. The plane then quickly pulled up and sharply cut back down to the left hand side of the road; making a pass across the length of the soybean field at speeds well over ours and at heights that wouldn’t allow a large truck to pass under.

When that row was finished, the pilot again cut over the freeway, making a large loop over the road, as if all the motorists came to a traveling aerobatics show; then on to the next row. The plane and it’s pilot continued to dance in the sky amidst the highway travelers, as if they were stuck to the pavement with glue and he was making up his own free flowing paths as he goes. Though the skies filled our excitement for the time being, we still had a very long road ahead of us and at the end of it is what’s really on our mind; the green waters of the Lake of the Ozarks.

We made it down just in time for a late dinner at Captian Ron’s where the Shootout is hosted for the second year in a row. Our goal for the next day was to set up our vendor booth, service some local dealers around the Lake of the Ozarks and get the biokleen boat launched to be ready for Friday’s pokerrun.

• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Wednesday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Thursday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Friday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Saturday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Sunday
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It did clear up a little for the day, but there was also a batch or two of slight sprinkles. The pokerrun had six stops: 1.Big Dicks, 2.The Fish & Co., 3.Dog Days, 4.Captain’s Galley, 5.Captain Ron’s and last and final stop 6.Franky & Louie’s where they would announce the winners. Each team received a card to be punched at each stop. Once everybody is back at Franky & Louie’s, contestants will draw seven cards, playing the best five card hand. Pokerrun committee chair Don Sylva said last years pokerrun attracted 105 boats. Sylva and co-chair Connie Weyer, who along with her husband Dave owns Advantage Marine in Sunrise Beach, hope to have 150-175 boats at the 2009 Shootout Pokerrun.

Biokleen had the honor of a special passenger for the Poker Run, Tamara, Miss Missouri. She was also kind enough to visit us back at the booth and give a helping hand. Be sure to vote for Tamara for Miss America.

Joy Schou and the crew from the Platinum Powerboat Club shacked up with us in the biokleen booth to sell T shirts for the Platinum Shootout Beach Bash that evening. Proceeds from the event support the areas local boy scouts. There’s also live music and free food and drink for attendees. The booth went extremely well for us to get the weekend started. After getting the booth closed up, it’s time to head to Franky & Louie’s to get our last cards and see who the winners are. Then back to Captain Ron’s for the Platinum Beach Bash. Tomorrow: everyone fires up their engines pursuing Top Gun status.

• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Wednesday
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• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Friday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Saturday
• Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2009, Sunday
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TOP V-Hull Professional Division: 136mph        Matthew Janssen-Driver, Dr. Michael Janssen-Throttle

TOP Cat Non-Professional Division: 171mph        Bill Pyburn

TOP V-Hull Non-Professional Division: 115mph        Jeff Becker

Top Cat Manufacturers Division: 159mph        Richard Prince

TOP V-Hull Manufacturers Division: 53mph        Mike “Gordo” Gordon

CLASS WINNERS     SPEED     DRIVER
PWC1     50     Alex Ashcroft
PWC2     67     Ron Wosel
PWC3     62     Louis Finigan
PWC4     63     Matt Clark
PWC5     79     Dan O’Keefe
MC4P2     159     Richard Prince
MP1S1     62     Carolyn Dorris
MP2S2     70     Jim Dorris
MV1M1     53     Mike “Gordo” Gordon
NC1P1     117     Larry Wiser
NC2F1     79     Phil Tremaine
NC2F2     99     Bruce Taylor
NC2M1     91     Danny McKinney
NC2P1     115     Warren Neighbour
NC2P2     139     Art DiNick
NC2S2     88     Aldo Waters
NC3F2     121     William Johnson
NC3M2     133     JD Onken
NC3P2     143     Greg Olson
NC4P2     171     Bill Pyburn
NC4S2     101     Bill Renzenberger
NC5P2     157     Gino Gargiulo
NC5S2     31     Timothy McNitt
NC6P2     153     Ronald Szolack
NCO1S1     81     Ralph Allison
NCO1S2     114     Zack Devier
NCO2M2     118     Jim Melley
NCO2S2     115     Steve Wallace
ND3S2     75     Lona Alexander/Bob Alexander
NP2P1     91     Ken Gouty
NV1F1     72     Jim Whittemore
NV1M1     84     Richard Pikul II
NV1P1     104     Leo Wiseman
NV1S1     67     Mark Fera
NV2F1     78     Howard Huntley
NV2M2     85     Brad Harrington/Jeremy Ressler
NV2P2     92     Jason Smith
NV2S2     73     John Humphrey
NV3F2     92     Don Sylva/Dave Weyer
NV3M2     115     Jeff Becker
NV3P1     94     Shawn Mercer
NV3P2     111     Ivan “Buck” Stracener
NV3S2     74     Randy Zehr
NV4F2     91     Al Brodbeck
NV4L2     110     Mark Tuck
NV4M2     101     John Malecky
NV4P2     114     Mike Lovergine            (Sponsored by Bio-Kleen)
NV5F3     90     Mike Schlup
NV5P2     94     Morechell Pryer
NV5P3     102     Scott Shogren            (Bio-Kleen Dealer)
NVO1S1     50     John Crabtree
NVO4S3     74     Terry Janssen
PC4S2     130     Bryan Haupt/Dennis Hillhouse    (Sponsored by Bio-Kleen)
PC5P2     177     Bob Bull
PC5P4     171     Bob Morgan            (Sponsored by Bio-Kleen)
PC6P2     196     David Scott/John Tomlinson
PD2P1     116     John “Kap” Caparell
PP1S2     91     Brad Rowland
PV2F1     91     Jeni Dunbar
PV4F2     102     Dan Davies
PV4P2     136     Matt Janssen
PV4Y2     96     Preston Moore
PV5F3     88     Tina Adler

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“The event has a fun Key West atmosphere to it,” Tim Kowalski, President of Bio-Kleen Products, stated in a live TV interview. As a vendor, Tim also liked how the set up was spread out over a large area to accommodate more spectators without seeming crowded. Ron Duggan (owner of Captain Ron’s), his first mate Nicole, his entire staff, family, friends, and volunteers all did a wonderful job accommodating all involved. The entertainment for the evenings included a rockin band, with a member from the band Survivor, Jimmie Jameson, performing on a barge in front of the beach.

Since the Lake Rescue Shootout began in 1988, the event has grown exponentially. It began as a way for local boat owners to establish who had the fastest vessels. As the years went by it grew by adding corporate sponsors such as Powerboat Magazine, Budweiser, AT&T and Pepsi. The proceeds from the event benefit the lake area fire departments and  water rescue units. Last year the event raised  nearly $86,000.  On Friday, the 4th annual Shootout Poker Run started out from Kelly’s Port and hit 6 participating waterfront restaurants including: Big Dick’s Halfway Inn, Captain Ron’s, Captains Galley, Frankie & Louie’s, Dog Day’s and The Horny Toad. Coconuts at the west end of the lake hosted the dinner and awards banquet for the Poker Run. Saturday and Sunday the races ran all day for thousands of cheering fans lining their boats along the course. Live television coverage of the one mile speed racing was provided for fans via large TV screens.

Shootout racing itself was not the usual Top Gun speeds that the fans are accustomed to. David Scott and John Tomlinson, in the Budweiser boat, won at a speed of 178 mph. Making it the first time since 2004 that no racer broke the 200 mph barrier. It was also the slowest time since Scott won in 2001 with a speed of 165 mph. Dave Callen in the Longlite boat who had Top Gun honors last year with a speed of 209 did not attend the event to defend his title. There were plenty of other boats, lining the docks for three straight days, with serious hardware and phenomenal paint schemes; including: The Bio-Kleen Team,  D&M Racing team, Taz, Looney Tunes, MTI’s, Donzi’s, Skaters and 70 mph pontoon boats (Wow! Take that performance boaters!). Two female racers participated in the event. Carrie in her Baja  and Carolyn Doris in a Playcraft Scorpion Pontoon boat, both winning their classes.

The new location, added events and extreme excitement certainly blew Shootout fans out of the water. Listed by Powerboat Magazine as one of the eight “must see” boating events, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout will only continue to get better. (DK)

Check out photos from the Shootout and more HERE.

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