ABRA still owed 90,000 from Thunder

"We are actually negotiating with them to pay us," he (ABRA's Sam Cole) said on Sunday. "They still owe us $90,000. We've worked with these guys for 30 years." When asked why ABRA has not been paid in full, Cole said: "(The board) basically told us the sponsorship money hadn't been paid."


The Festival owes that money, plus money to other creditors. Tom Sawyer, race director, told the Evansville Courier-Press that if the Festival board liquidates all of its assets, " it eventually should be able to pay all its debts."


VIDEO: Chip Hanauer's return to hydro racing

From KIRO-TV, Seattle

Docks and electrical systems for hydro races up for sale in Evansville

Meanwhile, the Thunder on the Ohio race chairman said he is being instructed by the festival's outgoing board to sell docks and electrical equipment that have been used to put on the summer unlimited hydroplane boat race.

"We have 11 docks, solid aluminum," race chairman Tom Sawyer said, adding he estimates the docks are worth $8,400 each.

Read more from Evansville Courier-Press >>

VIDEO: U-3's Ed Cooper talks about Evansville's future

"It's a sign to me they're not planning on having another race," said U-3's Ed Cooper. "You wouldn't sell the docks and then go out and buy more."


VIDEO: Evansville race in jeopardy; docks being sold

WFIE-TV 14 News has learned that the boating docks you nomally see for "Thunder on the Ohio" are in the process of being sold. Now some are concerned that means the race won't exist next year at the event.

Courtesy WFIE-TV