More than 2000 people turned out on the banks of the Missouri River at Cottonwood Marina to watch this year's 'Race Against Time'

Although the weather was a bit chilly, no one really seemed to mind too much as the crowd of over 2,000 spectators stood on the river bank to watch some of the fastest boats in the area compete for the Race Against Time. 

A total of 65 boats were entered, many of which came from as far away as Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota & Arizona. 

The boats were divided into classes determined by their hull type, length, engine classification & number of engines. Each driver started down the 1/2 mile course and passed through a radar trap where their speed was recorded as their score. Awards were presented to the top 3 participants in each class. 

 In memory of Bernie Balkus

Race day was sadly memorialized by being dedicated to the memory of our friend Bernie Balkus who lost his life on the job in a train accident only days before the racing event was held.

	After a memorial 'Cottonwood Flyby' ride with Bernie's Challenger, the memorial ceremonies included dedication of all subsequent boat races to be named the annual "Bernie Balkus Memorial Missouri River Shoot-Out" boat races.

Bernie was eagerly looking forward to racing his powerboat in the then upcoming shoot-out 

Bernie was a true dedicated boater and, if we may say so, a local river boating icon. For so many boating summer weekends up to, and including the present, you could always catch a glimpse of his long sleek "Roadrunner" 1999 Challenger Offshore powerboat splitting the silence and making way out on the river. You'd have seen a big suntanned Bernie with his wide toothy mustached smile fumbling with a drink as he wrestled the helm with his blonde best friend and wife Sheri in the bolster-seat beside him holding onto her hairdo. In the back there would always be family or friends. The last thing you see, of course, is a trailing wake of foam behind the stern and Bernie's trademark - a skyward spouting "rooster tail". 

He was usually found boating anywhere between Sandpiper and Cottonwood Marina - out there on the Missouri River he loved and lived on. He was known and loved by so many people and will be remembered by us forever as this event will now be known as the 'Bernie Balkus Memorial Missouri River Shoot-Out'.

The TOP GUN winner in this year's race went to Bob Keller of Omaha who drove his 2000 Eliminator at a speed of 120.6 miles per hour. There was also a trophy awarded to the driver

	A dockside ovation for Bob Keller as he cruises into Cottonwood Marina after winning the Top Gun trophy. His Eliminator Daytona recorded a speed of 120.6 mph.

who traveled the farthest away to compete. That trophy was awarded this year to Matt Schnorr who came all the way from Tucson, Arizona. 

If you missed this year's event, we hope to see you all next year at the '2003 Bernie Balkus Memorial Missouri River Shoot-Out'. We will be announcing the exact date for the 2003 Shoot-Out in the next coming months.

A Special Thank You goes out to all of you who volunteered to help make this day a success. Also, thanks goes to all of the following participating sponsors -