freshare.net
Offshore Super Series Power Boat Race to Crown
National Champion at Central Missouri’s
Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –One of the largest events ever held at the Lake of the Ozarks returns for the second straight year, Sept. 26-28. The Horny Toad Offshore Super Series National Championship Power Boat Race will feature the world’s fastest boats competing for the national title near the Horny Toad Entertainment Complex in Lake Ozark.
Visual highlights for spectators will include testing and preliminary runs on Saturday, Sept. 27, and the championship race on Sunday, Sept. 28, with boats hurtling through the water at speeds of 185 mph or more. Concerts, fireworks and other activities will add to the fun.
“This is our national championship, so it’s very significant,” says Offshore Super Series President Ron Polli. “It’s the final event of our racing season and it’s a double-points race, so it offers competitors a chance to make a big jump in the point standings.”
More than 30,000 visitors came to see last year’s event, held at the Lake for the first time. “To think that we were able to get the national championships here is just phenomenal,” says Merlyn Vandervort, owner of the Horny Toad Entertainment Complex. “Hosting this event just weeks after the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout really puts us in the powerboat spotlight.” Vandervort worked for more than a year to bring the first OSS event to the Lake and now has negotiated an indefinite right to renew the Lake’s hosting role in future years.
Working with Vandervort to bring the race to the Lake was Dave Scott, owner of Sunrise Beach-based Nauti Marine Inc. and captain of the Bud Light Offshore Race Team. Scott, an eight-time world champion and ten-time national champion powerboat racer, notes the OSS event’s significance for the area. “It’s quite an achievement to get the championship held at the Lake,” he says. “Everyone knows how great the Lake is for boating and its central location is a big plus. As we continue to host the event, people will become more aware of its impact and the event will become even more successful.”
Local sponsors definitely recognize the event’s impact. “The Lake of the Ozarks is thrilled to be the host site for this prestigious national event,” says Jim Divincen, executive director of the Tri-County Lodging Association (TCLA). “Last year’s OSS race was one of our top two on-water events, generating approximately four million dollars of economic impact in the Lake community. The TCLA board of directors is very pleased to be a substantial financial partner for this annual event.”
For spectators who want an up-close look the boats, the Race Village (or “Dry Pits”) on Bittersweet Road is the place to be. The parking lot adjacent to the Horny Toad will hold last year’s National Champions; all other competitors will be in a larger lot at 1050 Bittersweet Road. Opening at 10:00 a.m. on Sept. 26-28, the Race Village is the staging area where the teams will set up their boats, trailers and equipment. Here, pass-holders and media can mingle with the drivers and their crews, get autographs and photos, see the boats and purchase team-approved racing gear. “One of the best things about our races is getting a chance to meet fans and local residents,” Scott notes. “We really hope they’ll come out to the Race Village to meet the drivers and crews.”
Other activities will include a “Meet the Drivers” party at the Horny Toad Tiki Bar at 8:00 p.m. on Sept. 26. It will be followed at 9:00 p.m. by a concert in the Amphitheater featuring the Beatles tribute band, Liverpool. The next night, a fireworks display at 9:20 p.m. will precede a concert by the legendary rock band Shooting Star. Each night, the public is invited to enjoy live music at the Horny Toad, 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
The heart of the event, however, is the racing itself. Described as being “like NASCAR on the water,” the event features boats in eight classes racing on a nearly six-mile course between the six and nine mile markers. Among the 30 or so boats expected to race will be three turbine-powered boats – a “first” for this event according to OSS President Polli. Racers will run up to 16 laps depending on the boat class. Competitors have been racing all year for points, but this event determines the championship.
Visitors can watch the teams during testing and qualifying on the watery race course from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 27. On Sept. 28, the championship races will be held from noon to 5:00 p.m., with a championship awards ceremony set for 7:00 p.m. at the Horny Toad Amphitheater.
Spectators will watch the race from the shoreline or their own boats on the Lake. For spectators at the Horny Toad – at the heart of the activities – the General Admission Weekend Pass will be $60 per person. Children under 12 will be admitted free. The pass includes entrance to the race, the Race Village and both concerts at the Horny Toad. Tickets may be purchased online from http://www.ticketmaster.com or on-site at the Tropical Sunsations store on the lower level of the Horny Toad.
Among area lodging venues offering special rates for the event are the Resort & Yacht Club at Toad Cove, Lodge of Four Seasons and Baymont Inn. Major sponsors include Dave Scott Bud Light Offshore Racing, Benne Media, Relocating to the Lake, Ozark Village Docks, Tri-County Lodging Association and Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau.
“Getting ready for this race has really been a good community effort,” Vandervort says. “The event is a lot of fun for racers and spectators alike. It’s good for the Lake area, so we’re working to ensure that the Lake can be the host site next year and beyond.”
For more race information, visit http://www.toadcove.com/powerboat_racing.aspx. And for information about lodging, dining, shopping, attractions and events throughout the Lake area, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or online at http://www.funlake.com.