Text & Photos Via David Hilner

For some people, the car scene and the grind of the custom cars, whether that be drag racing or car shows is nothing more than a short fad. This is not the case with Mark Glomb and his ‘74 Vega Wagon. As he discusses with David during this interview, Mark has always seemingly had the car bug, and it’s just as strong today as it was 25 years ago.

Mark stated that things really started back in 1996 when he used to go to car shows with his 1986 Monte Carlo. Then, one weekend someone did a show & go at Lancaster Dragway & Mark said “What the hell, I’ll see what it does.” That night, he ended up winning the class and the hook was set.

Mark went back and the very next year & joined the points in Street class and never looked back. He kept on making improvements to the car and moved into the “Heavy” class, which is the present-day “Mod” class, Mark finished tied for 3rd overall in 2002. Eventual progression moved him up to “Pro”, which is the present-day “Top” class. As more power was added to the Monte Carlo, it was starting to show its limitations. It was decided that the time had come to get something more capable of handling the power.

Shopping around, Mark had heard rumblings that a local racer Bob Bauer Jr. was selling his 1974 Vega wagon. “I always liked that car and went to look at it. We eventually struck a deal.” Mark stated “over the years, I have made improvements to the car to make it my own. I have raced in the TNT Hot Rod series, WNY Super Rod, and was able to secure a championship in the Gasser Racing Series. I was the first champion in the newly formed Mod Gas class in 2011. I’m still looking to capture that Top E.T. crown though.”

The car is a 1974 Vega wagon tube chassis ride with a 4 link- strange strut front end. The paint was done by Jeff and Lenny Blamowski. Under the hood lies a Mike Janis (Jan-Cen) built 15:1 434 sbc making approx. 700+ hp. On the top half of the engine, it features a Comp Prosystems 1050 dominator carb on alcohol and AFR 245 CNC heads. Transferring that horsepower is an Abruzzi converter bolted to a TCI Powerglide 180 with straight cut gears, which feeds the 12 bolt rear stuffed with 4:56’s.

The car runs a stout 5.80’s @117mph 1/8 mile but that wouldn’t be possible without the support of my amazing sponsors. Alp Steel Corp, who has been with me since the very start, along with Giorgio’s Limousine and Air-FX Airbrushing and Kustom Paint (Kevin Kegler, awesome custom helmet work!)

Most important to Mark though is his family. Mark wanted to give a special thanks to his family! His daughters, Ashley and Angela. Angela is married to Ken Babiak Jr., who is another well-known drag racer. And of course, Mark’s oldest daughter Amy, who he refers to as the son he never had! She hung out with him at the car shows, drag races, and eventually began racing herself in the Jr. Dragster program and the Street ET class and became champion in 2010. “Lastly, yet the most important of all thanks go to my wife of 37 years, Lynn who puts up with my crap. The highs of winning and the temper tantrums when I don’t! HAHA! "