David Scott Out for 2011 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout

While the course radar recorded a top speed of 208 mph for Nauti-Marine, Scott and Tomlinson reportedly saw 218 mph on GPS at the end of last year’s run.

David Scott, the reigning champion of the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout with a liquid-mile top speed of 208 mph he set last with year throttleman John Tomlinson in the 50-foot Mystic catamaran Nauti-Marine, will not compete in the 2011 event at the end of this month. A perennial crowd favorite and local hero—Scott has a home on the shores of the Missouri waterway—he will display the cat and mingle with fans during the event.

“Last year, it was a personal goal of mine to break 200 mph and we did that,” said Scott. “So we’re going to sit this one out.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t be back next year,” he added. “But this will give us a chance to meet with the fans, do some commentating work (the event is broadcast live on local radio and Internet feeds) and really take in the weekend. When you’re in the Shootout, you really don’t get to do that. When you’re not running, you’re just focused on the boat.”

Scott entered his first Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in 1996. He has taken Top Gun honors in his class—a variety of performance-boat classes are offered—every year since then and the overall Top Gun title eight times, culminating with his record-setting “Three-Peat” last year.

Tomlinson, Scott’s longtime throttleman at the Shootout and offshore racing, will compete at this year’s event in a 48-foot Marine Technology, Inc., catamaran powered by Mercury Racing 1350 engines.

“I’m going to do the Shootout with Tor Staubo, the owner of the boat, who I’m going to race offshore with later this year,” said Tomlinson.