Lake Area Shootout draws thousands

One of largest powerboat events closes today

Visitors and residents of Windsor Bay Condominiums enjoyed having a race-side seat from the complex's docks during Saturday's Lake of the Ozarks speed trials in the open and professional class divisions.
Visitors and residents of Windsor Bay Condominiums enjoyed having a race-side seat from the complex's docks during Saturday's Lake of the Ozarks speed trials in the open and professional class divisions.

This year's Lake of the Ozarks Shootout was expected to draw even bigger crowd than the 75,000 that showed up last year.

That mark was matched Saturday on the first big day of what Powerboat Magazine calls one of the nation's "must-see" boating events.

The annual event, which benefits Lake Area fire departments and other local charitable organizations, saw hundreds of powerboat entries racing to beat the top speed in their division along the main channel near the host site, Captain Ron's, in Sunrise Beach, Mo. The final runs continue this afternoon with an evening awards ceremony.