Lake of the Ozarks Shootout Pushing for Better Top-Speed Accuracy in 2012
 

Hats off to Ron Duggan and the rest of the Shootout crew, who always seem to be trying to make it better, http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...y-in-2012.html.

Has there been any talk of making the shootout any longer (maybe 1 1/2 or 2 miles)?

From the people I've spoken with, I don't think there's a whole lot of interest in making the course longer. They fastest boats are already running more than 200 mph and there are plenty running 150-plus.

There may well be participants who would like a longer course. That's just something I've never heard from the people who are already running really, really fast.

I've always suggested they use a timing light trap like the drag boat race courses.

I was hoping they would ditch the radar altogether and go with timing traps.

Radar = Fail

With all due respect, I think "fail" is a little strong. As John Tomlinson said in the article, he saw no discrepancies this year between radar and in-boat GPS in a boat that ran in the 160-mph range. My experience with radar as compared to GPS numbers in many years of testing with Powerboat magazine is that usually they were very close.

The problem at the Shootout seems to occur, or has been reported most, is with boats that run 200-plus mph. To be sure, there aren't many of them but they are the "marquee" boats and, to organizers' credit, they want to get it right.

Timing lights, as Terry mentioned, would be the most accurate way to measure top speed. I have no idea what the costs or set-up challenges for that kind of system would be.

Have them contact the St. Louis Drag Boat Assoc.
I'm sure they could get it set up.

Having Radar in the boat works fine because you can point it straight ahead and the readings are accurate.
The problems with the radar at the Shoot Out are:
With the gun positioned overhead on a boom pointing down on the boat you're already skewed. If the boat doesn't line up directly with the gun it's going to be off. If the boat doesn't have enough mass/ reflectivity it's going to be off. Most of the boats are still gaining speed just as they go under the boom but the gun has already clocked you well in front of it.

There's my take on it.

Inaccuracy is one thing but registering no speed is inexcusable. Too much at risk when these boats run to say, "Oops! Can you try that again?"

Well said!!!