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Ron Goldleaf's WRE Shadow Formula 5000 Racecar

Owner: Ron Goldleaf
City: New York, NY
Model: WRE Shadow (circa 1968)
Engine: Chevy 305cid V8
Race prepared by: Ron Goldleaf
 

World Racing Enterprises

Few people consider the WRE Shadow a British car because it was built by World Racing Enterprises in Los Angeles California. The three gentlemen who comprised World Racing Enterprises were of three different nationalities. From our point of view, the car is about one third British.

The company's principle was Tony Settember, a race car driver and engineer who had competed in all sorts of racing, starting in California club racing in 1954. By 1959 he had developed into Grand Prix driving and was traveling the world. Settember won the Naples Grand Prix of 1959. In 1962, Settember drove a Climax powered Emeryson Mk2 to finish second to Jack Brabham in the Austrian Grand Prix, and he also placed seventh in the Grand Prix of Belgium.

Settember partnered with an English designer named John Wadsworth and an Italian fabricator/mechanic named Ermanno Coughi. Coughi would become much more famous later as Nicki Lauda's Crew Chief at Ferrari, where together they won a Grand Prix championship.

The chassis and suspension of the WRE Shadow made extensive use of 4130 chrome moly steel, because it was designed to be able to run USAC and specifically the Indianapolis 500 where chrome moly frames were required by the rules at that time.

Although World Racing Enterprises had every intention of building cars for outside customers, things never quite came together for the company. We only know of one Formula 5000 race completed by a WRE Shadow: at the 1969 Sears Point race, Nick Dioguardi qualified eighteenth and finished fifteenth. Apparently at least two WRE Shadows were built. They were both entered to race at Laguna Seca in 1968 but Nick Dioguardi (with a Ford 4.7L engine) was disqualified and Rex Ramsey (with a Chevy 5.0L engine) failed to qualify.

After giving up on the Shadow project, Tony Settember resumed driving. He entered one Formula 5000 race in 1969 driving a Spectre HR-1. He entered four L&M Championship Formula 5000 races in 1972, driving a modified McLaren M10. In 1973 he campaigned the McLaren in seven of the nine L&M Championship races, earning points in the four races he finished to place 11th in championship standings. In 1974 he campaigned a Lola T330 at six of the seven races in the series.

OFFERS ACCEPTED!! Let us set up the shipping logistics for you, we are happy to help! We currently have a Ralt on the way to Germany!

Thanks!

Rick

BIG THANKS TO THE WATERMARKED PHOTOS FROM STEVE BEDFORD, GREAT PICS, CHECK HIM OUT!

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