In The Beginning

[useless tony]

Speaking of Vega's and Toronto street racing, there used to be a charcoal grey BB Vega with a tube chassis (I think the owners name was Manny ... I would guess this was somewhere around 1985). The car sat so low in the front that the front corners of the valve covers protruded through the hood. He also ran a massive slick on the street. I think I saw it run 10.70 at Cayuga. Anywho, one night of street racing on the 404 (when the 404 ended at Bloomington) the cops showed up so we all split. I later heard that the cops caught the Vega and wanted to tow it (due to the slicks) but the car was so low in the front, if they hooked it from the back the nose would drag and they couldn't get a hook under the front because it sat so low. As the story goes, the cops ended up allowing him to leave with the warning of "if we ever see that thing out here again, you'll be sorry". I never did see it on the street after that.

Another about a Vega and Toronto street racing ... I remember reading a newspaper article about street racing in Toronto (I don't think it was the same article that had Dieters Cougar in it, I think this article was much later) and they had interviewed the owner of a yellow BB Vega who stated that, although he enjoys hanging out at Weston and Finch, he refuses to race on the street (obv that is what anyone would say ...). Welp, a month or two after the article and isn't the yellow Vega spotted (not by the cops), carrying the front wheels in the air, through an intersection Me street race? No way, I'm just here to watch (wink wink)

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by useless tony

Speaking of Vega's and Toronto street racing, there used to be a charcoal grey BB Vega with a tube chassis (I think the owners name was Manny ... I would guess this was somewhere around 1985). The car sat so low in the front that the front corners of the valve covers protruded through the hood. He also ran a massive slick on the street. I think I saw it run 10.70 at Cayuga. Anywho, one night of street racing on the 404 (when the 404 ended at Bloomington) the cops showed up so we all split. I later heard that the cops caught the Vega and wanted to tow it (due to the slicks) but the car was so low in the front, if they hooked it from the back the nose would drag and they couldn't get a hook under the front because it sat so low. As the story goes, the cops ended up allowing him to leave with the warning of "if we ever see that thing out here again, you'll be sorry". I never did see it on the street after that.

Another about a Vega and Toronto street racing ... I remember reading a newspaper article about street racing in Toronto (I don't think it was the same article that had Dieters Cougar in it, I think this article was much later) and they had interviewed the owner of a yellow BB Vega who stated that, although he enjoys hanging out at Weston and Finch, he refuses to race on the street (obv that is what anyone would say ...). Welp, a month or two after the article and isn't the yellow Vega spotted (not by the cops), carrying the front wheels in the air, through an intersection Me street race? No way, I'm just here to watch (wink wink)

Tony, as I was reading your first paragraph, my mind remember a YELLOW BB Vega with a Nash 5 speed I used to see at Cayuga. Then your 2nd paragraph you mention a YELLOW Vega that launched hard and carried the wheels.

The YELLOW one I remember was The Saturday Night Special that was Ray Mercer's car I think who owned it? I heard it did run the streets a bit. 511 inch was on the big scoop on the tunnelram.

[markinnaples]

Originally Posted by useless tony

Speaking of Vega's and Toronto street racing, there used to be a charcoal grey BB Vega with a tube chassis (I think the owners name was Manny ... I would guess this was somewhere around 1985). The car sat so low in the front that the front corners of the valve covers protruded through the hood. He also ran a massive slick on the street. I think I saw it run 10.70 at Cayuga. Anywho, one night of street racing on the 404 (when the 404 ended at Bloomington) the cops showed up so we all split. I later heard that the cops caught the Vega and wanted to tow it (due to the slicks) but the car was so low in the front, if they hooked it from the back the nose would drag and they couldn't get a hook under the front because it sat so low. As the story goes, the cops ended up allowing him to leave with the warning of "if we ever see that thing out here again, you'll be sorry". I never did see it on the street after that.

Another about a Vega and Toronto street racing ... I remember reading a newspaper article about street racing in Toronto (I don't think it was the same article that had Dieters Cougar in it, I think this article was much later) and they had interviewed the owner of a yellow BB Vega who stated that, although he enjoys hanging out at Weston and Finch, he refuses to race on the street (obv that is what anyone would say ...). Welp, a month or two after the article and isn't the yellow Vega spotted (not by the cops), carrying the front wheels in the air, through an intersection Me street race? No way, I'm just here to watch (wink wink)

Is the Cougar you're referring to the one that is in the popular street racing video with the Springsteen soundtrack? The video looks like it was professionally done.

Found it: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...6FORM%3DHDRSC4

[EZ Nova]

When I bought my 052 block ZL1 I was going to do a Motion Vega ZL1 tribute. I thought that would have been the cats-ass. But shop owner convinced me to do a '69 Vette tribute, so going that route.
I might still go with a Vega tribute of some sort. Was thinking of a Ls, but still thinking "another" Alum block BBc, seeing as I have 3 now.

[ZiggyL78]

I just had a chat with Dieter. A street racing legend around here and yet a real humble guy.
He sent me this article from the National Post way back when.

Thanks Dieter.

[ZiggyL78]

Originally Posted by markinnaples

Is the Cougar you're referring to the one that is in the popular street racing video with the Springsteen soundtrack? The video looks like it was professionally done.

Found it: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...6FORM%3DHDRSC4

The video was done sometime around 1978. Dieter did it for a project in college. He had access to pro cameras and equipment from the college.

Here is his car when the 1970 Canadian Ford Drag Team owned it.

https://www.dragzine.com/news/flashb...-team-in-1970/