For over a decade, the Super Cat Fest has long been a welcomed addition each August to the annual mega-event, the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in central Missouri.
However, this year the two organizations will be joining forces to encourage more participants to take their turn to run down the legendary LOTO 3/4-mile course.
Scheduled for August 27-28, 2022, the “largest unsanctioned charity boat race in the U.S.” is adding the Super Cat Hour, an additional 60 minutes of televised broadcast by Benne Media and the Envision Media Group from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on that Saturday, to welcome Super Cat Fest attendees to make their speed runs and compete for the coveted Top Gun trophy–without the inconvenience of the miles-long no-wake zone. The idle-only stretch of waterway is implemented Saturday afternoon during the Shootout from the home venue of Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill at mile marker 34.5 to mile marker 21 from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00p.m., to help regulate the massive crowds in attendance.
“The Shootout had lost some of the participants due to the long and inconvenient no-wake zone. So this year, Super Cat Fest attendees will be able to run straight from the [host venue Camden on the Lake] Hotel and back, all while on-plane for the early morning Super Cat Hour,” explained Super Cat Fest founder Alvin Heathman.
“We will also have boat tech inspections available at the hotel so that all of it can be handled before getting out to the lineup,” said Heathman. “This should help get these super cats to go and and come back without any trouble at all.”
Those interested in participating are encouraged to message the Super Cat Fest Facebook page.
Shootout broadcast host and industry legend Bob Teague, who announces both days of the event alongside co-host Rod Smith, was excited to hear about the additional coverage and its potential for more racers to compete.
“The more, the merrier,” exclaimed Teague. “It can only help the sport and the event and I hope this will get these guys to show up.”
Shootout event producer and owner of Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill, Ron Duggan agrees.
The biggest thing is getting these guys out of that no-wake zone,” explained Duggan. “To get them down there, letting them run and back home before they put that no-wake deal in.”
Super Cat Fest, along with the Shootout, have always been about raising money for charity. In years past, they have hosted Friday night bikini fashion shows and full banquets and charity auctions on the following Saturday, and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the benefit of children and local charities.
This year, Heathman, along with Shootout Executive Director Leah Martin, will also be presenting the Super Cat 4 Kids LOTO Fun Run the weekend prior to the Shootout, Sunday, August 21. All boat owners, large and small, cat or vee, are welcome and encouraged to participate. Last October, the Shootout committee named offshore race champion and MTI Director of Marketing and Sales, Taylor Scism as honorary chair of the Charity Auction.
“We are thrilled to work with Taylor and believe she will help grow the event,” said Martin. “The live auction is the largest fundraising event for the Shootout and has a tremendous impact for the lake area charities and the communities they serve.”
For more information and details about the event, go to https://lakeoftheozarksshootout.com
Super Cat Fest’s Alvin Heathman also divulged that plans are currently in the works to bring another fun and casual event to the Camden on the Lake Resort, scheduled for the weekend of June 16-18. Tentatively titled Summer Jam, the event looks to bring more speedboaters to the lake and the resort for music, entertainment and exploring the world famous waterway. More details to come.