What you need is a crown race puller, otherwise known as a bearing separator. I doubt you'll have any luck with a razor blade, knife, or screwdriver, except to scar the base of the fork. The shop will be able to pull the old race, and install it on the new fork in under 10 minutes if they aren't busy.

something like this (Bearing Splitter & Large Bearing Separator) would work if you can find it. heck, an auto shop or machine shop could do it as well. A length of pvc pipe + coupler will install it on the new fork too.

edit: cheapo separator that would work fine: Small Bearing Separator Splitter Puller | eBay