The economy of Dubai is in trouble and it is expected that Abu Dhabi will prop up its neighbour. That's the theory, but on the afternoon of Wednesday, 2nd December, an urgent message was sent to many leading Historic racers: "Don't Come."

The message referred to the Abu Dhabi Classic next January. It was to have been the second motor race meeting to be held in that fly-blown patch of sand. Abu Dhabi has managed one motor race, it seems it cannot manage a second.

It was only on 14th October that the Yas Marina Circuit announced the Abu Dhabi Classic, organised in conjunction with Masters Historic Racing Ltd. It was to be a three-day extravaganza, January 21-23, 2010, with 'remarkable cars that have never before raced in the Gulf region.'

There was to have been no stinting, each grid would have three races, including one at night. It would have been the first time Historics had raced under floodlights and there was to be a track layout variant to the one used for the Grand Prize. There was to be another Tilke layout. Yippee!

In addition there were to be displays by manufacturers and classic car clubs and a Concours d'Elegance. It sounds like a cross between the Goodwood Festival and the Goodwood Revival, but it was planned to be 'a truly unique experience.'

'Unique' must never be qualified or embellished. Press releases should be written only by literate people. These days, it is a vain hope.

The race cars were due to be shipped out in the next couple of days. Then came the cancellation. No official reason has yet been given, but unless it admits the economic crisis, nobody is going to believe it.

The Classic would not have been as expensive to run as the GP, there would not have been the big bag of ackers going to Bernie and his petrolhead pals at CVC. The Classic was announced before the GP was run, so before the organisers could tot up their loss.

We were told that the recent race had a capacity crowd of 50,000. If we are told that, it must be true and therefore trick photography must have been used to show all the empty seats. I wonder if Bernie can recall the last time there was an unsold ticket at a British GP?

The cancellation came the day after a new £5 billion Dubai development was opened in Las Vegas. The unique selling points are that smoking, drinking and gambling are banned. Building a hotel without gambling in Las Vegas is like building a pub with no beer in the Australian Outback. It is a novel approach to business, and as likely to succeed.

One of the attractions of Las Vegas is the hint of naughtiness. There is the Mob past, the chance to gamble which began at a time when almost all the rest of the USA forbade it. Nevada even has legalised brothels, unlike most Middle Eastern countries where you have to take a chance with bottle-blondes from the former Soviet Bloc.

The Abu Dhabi GP is supposed to boost its tourist trade. There is not actually any good reason for being a tourist there, though I can understand the gaudy attraction of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is like a voluptuous woman with an interesting past, who you would never take home to meet your parents. Abu Dhabi and its neighbour, Dubai, are wannabe glam, like girls who cannot quite walk in four-inch heels.