Lake of the Ozarks Shootout to Honor Smith, Tripp

According to Ron Duggan, who is buried up to his neck in Lake of the Ozarks Shootout preparation with the event less than two weeks away, the 2014 Shootout will recognize a few participants who lost their lives in the last year.

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During a break in the action on Sunday of this year’s Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, a flyover will take place in memory of longtime Shootout participant and Revolution Performance Marine owner Steve Tripp, who passed away in February. Photo by Robert Brown

Along with dedicated flyovers and broadcast recognition for Revolution Performance Marine owner Steve Tripp, who died in February while testing a boat, and Smith Power founder Brad Smith and his good friend and customer, Jeff Asbell, who died in a crash at a poker run last September, Duggan said the Shootout committee plans to donate money to each of the family’s children education funds.

The flyovers at the Shootout, which takes place Aug. 23-24 along with a full week of poker runs, street parties, stereo shootouts and more leading up to the weekend’s top-speed event, are scheduled for 3:50 p.m. on Saturday and 11:50 a.m. on Sunday. The committee also is putting together a video tribute to all three men for the Thursday evening Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which includes Smith as part of the 2014 class (read the story).

shootout14 quiltDuggan hopes this year’s Shootout donations will top last year’s record-breaking year (read the story) since they’re moving the auction to Friday night at Captain Ron’s following the poker run. One item that Duggan expects to raise a significant amount of money with bids starting at $1,000 is a quilt put together by Margie Frazier, a member of last year’s inaugural Hall of Fame class with her husband, Ron.

Frazier’s quilt, which was donated and made by Scraps to Treasures in Climax Springs, Mo., celebrates 25 years of Shootout history with T-shirts and patches from various years of the event along with recognition for the first 10 members of the Bob Morgan Memorial Shootout Hall of Fame.

Duggan said they are still looking for donation items for the auction so if you have something to contribute, please contact the Lake West Chamber at 573-374-5500.

Speedonthewater.com is graciously donating a feature story in an upcoming digital magazine for the auction. So if you’ve always wanted a story on you and your boat, this is your chance.

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Shootout Donation Hits Record High at $115,000

Shootout Announced First Hall of Fame Class