LAKE OF THE OZARKS - Crowds slowly trickled into the Horney Toad on Friday evening as workers bustled around preparing for the big weekend race. As staff scurried about, people meandered down the docks to check out the multiple open cock-pit go-fast boats.

A big attraction for folks walking the docks was hte bright orange, twin-turbine GEICO race boat prominently docked near the open air bar. The race has drawn a number of visitors from the area. Fred and Mary Collins from Bellevue, Ill. found out about the OSS race when they were down for the Lake Rescue Shootout. They came down especially for the race and to celebrate Mary's birthday.

"We might be able to see them from the condo we're staying in. They turn around at the end of our cove," Mary said. The couple planned to look at the boats, grab a bite to eat and were willing to just allow the night to unfold.

Two young men from St. Louis were scoping out all the boats. "We're just here for the boats. We wanted to com out here and check out the boats while they're in the dry-pits," Bryan Bajire said. They planned on heading down the road less than a mile to where more race boats weer on trailers.

On the roadside near the enterance to the Horney Toad, about a half-dozen OSS boats were lined up with their counterpart camper trailers for the crew. "The camping set ups are outrageous. We just fot here and are looking around," Chris Carson of Cedar rapids, Iowa said. Carson's friend Greg Walt shared her enthusiasm. They plan to watch the race from their boat.

"We'll probably tie up with all the other boats." Walt said. "This is great. Midwest guys don't get a lot of opportunities to see offshorer acing like this."

The atmosphere was low key as crew members talked to people passing by. Crew member and mechanic Chad Sargent of D&M Motorsports was relaxing outside the crew's camper. "We're hanging low, just getting everything ready before the big race," Sargent said. A mechanic's duties for these boats involve intense times of stress and last minute thoughts run through their heads: "Did I check evrything? Did I do everything right? The best part is at the finish line and taking first place, " Sargent said.