The 35th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout announced that it is partnering with Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Sanctioned Kilo Races during this year’s event. Known worldwide as the largest unsanctioned boat race in the United States of America, this incredible event and Central Missouri fundraiser has grown to become one of the greatest powerboating attractions of all time, enticing hundreds of thrill-seeking, lionhearted boat operators and more than 100,000 onlookers from across the globe each year.
“Unlike the traditional ‘top speed racing’ that we typically witness at the Shootout, kilo races, rather, are a speed run based upon the average time between two survey points, which are marked by buoys,” explained Leah Martin, Executive Director of the Shootout. “The addition of kilo racing is a great way to enliven the event, and to add something new and unique to the 35th Annual Shootout.” This LOTO-based powerboating event attracts a sea of spectators, watching from both land, water, and TV, to witness as high-performance vessels of all kinds reach peak speeds which often exceed 100 miles per hour along the 3⁄4-mile course.
“The American Power Boat Association is pleased to become a part of the biggest performance boating event in the world,” said Rich Luhrs, APBA Offshore Commission Chairman. “The Shootout will produce true UIM/APBA world records – the internationally recognized speed titles. This LOTO-based event has epitomized excellence in organization, promotion, and state-of-the-art course management, and we look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship.”
Founded in 1951, the APBA is the U.S. governing body for powerboat racing as authorized by the UIM, which is the international governing body of powerboat racing. Founded in 1922, UIM is based in Principality of Monaco, the sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera.
Martin accredited the initial idea of introducing kilo racing to the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout to Alvin Heathman, organizer of Super Cat Fest and avid supporter of the Shootout. Heathman has a long history of powerboat racing and partners with the LOTO Shootout for the Super-Cat-Fest-For-Kids Charity Auction each year. Including proceeds raised from Super Cat Fest in 2022, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout raised a record-breaking $625,000.00 for 40 local charities, in addition to numerous fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and medical first responders around the tri-county area.
The 35th Annual Shootout will be produced by P1 Offshore, and it will be livestreamed on the official Shootout Facebook page and YouTube channels. Lake area residents and water-based marinas/restaurants will be able to air 2023’s broadcast live on Co-Mo Connect and Spectrum platforms. This year’s broadcast will also air in Columbia, Kansas City, and Springfield, Missouri, along with many other areas across the state.
“It’s the best of both words as unsanctioned meets sanctioned for the first time in Shootout history,” said Brett Manire, Co-Owner of Performance Boat Center. “We are so proud to continue to be a part of the biggest powerboating event in the world which draws thousands upon thousands to our lake every year.”