WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- The executive director at Watkins Glen says while officials attempt to raise money to pay some $800,000 in debts that caused the cancellation of the 1981 Formula One race, there's no assurance the decision will be reversed.
'At present, we are attempting to raise sufficient monies in hopes of resurrecting the race for 1981,' Malcolm Currie, executive director of Watkins Glen, said Friday.
Currie, however, added that the board has 'no assurance' that the decision would be reversed even if the track can raise the money.
'We are attempting to raise the money and we have a good opportunity to raise the money,' he said.
The Paris-based International Auto Sport Federation Thursday canceled the race because of Watkins Glen's failure to pay about $800,000 owed to drivers and race crews from last year's race by a May 1 deadline. Glen officials unsuccessfully sought an extension of the deadline.
Meanwhile, John Johnson, the president of the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce, said he is thinking positively about the Schuyler County community playing host once again in October to the U.S. East Grand Prix.
'I'm still optimistic we're going to have a full racing season,' Johnson said.
Johnson, who sits on the race track's board of directors, said he hoped 'public and private' funding would materialize to save the race, held annually since 1961.
Johnson said that, in addition to the U.S. East Grand Prix, Watkins Glen hosts two other public races each year. He said sports car clubs and the auto industry also make use of the facility.
Johnson said he could not estimate the effect of the loss of the Grand Prix on the local economy, saying only it would be a blow.
