Rally New York's opening and closing ceremonies drew a combined estimate of 350 to Ellenville's business district last week. Local residents, racing teams and car enthusiasts were all out to view the variety of vehicles outfitted with complex safety equipment and covered with sponsor advertisements.

But now, competitors, organizers and spectators have left town and the jury is still out as to whether the racing event created the economic benefits it was supposed to bring.

A cursory sample of local businesses has not yielded solid information that would indicate that the race provided the $200,000 in revenue that race organizers Ivan Orisek and Rich Otis as well as Ulster County Director of Tourism Rick Remsnyder said would justify any inconveniences that local residents might suffer.

The only things that are definite is that there were two rollovers on Wintish Road, some minor property damage to a resident's fence and a tree as well as reports that the race's organizers did not keep their word about letting residents in and out of their homes.

Check out next week's edition of the Ellenville Journal for an evaluation of the race's benefits and drawbacks.

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