Tony V’s Grudge Camaro Serves As A Connection To Family

For grudge racer Anthony Mangiaracina, fast cars and drag racing have been a part of life since he was in diapers. His dad had a bracket car, an old Don Ness Pro Stock Lumina, and a Top Dragster, as well. That’s what Mangiaracina grew up around.

When he became of age he bought a Fox Mustang and played around with it before branching off into F-Bodies. In 2009, he bought the Camaro you see here with just 12,000 miles on it. “It was just a street car,” Mangiaracina says. It had some bolt-ons, but nothing fancy or exotic. The Camaro was a black 2000 SS six-speed car, but also part of that rough childhood he had surgery on his foot, and for that reason, he doesn’t do so well with manual transmission cars.

With his drag racing background, you know the SS wouldn’t stay a street car for long. We should mention right here that if you know this car, you might know Mangiaracina by a different name. He says his grudge name is Tony V, which is a lot easier to say and spell than his government name. Anyway, Tony V built the car up himself three times before his dad suggested he take it to Racecraft, Inc.

Finally, Mangiaracina listened. He took the car to Racecraft, Inc. to have the cage and fabrication work done, and for its new Pro Kit front suspension with Santhuff struts, and a new motor plate. At that point, Mangiaracina got the car back, and had Mad Mark Krupa apply the current paint over the body and the new VFN hood, front bumper, and decklid. After the new paint, he wired the car using a Spaghetti Menders kit, added new carpet, and put the back seat in the car. Then back it went to Racecraft to be scaled and have the springs swapped out. Dad was right about Racecraft because the car’s first time down the track it went straight as an arrow.

Since the car’s main goal in life is on the grudge circuit, Mangiaracina was a little reserved on giving us full details on the powerplant. What he would tell us is that it’s a Taylor Lastor-built (TRE Racing Engines) engine with Brodix heads, an Edelbrock intake, and a Holley Dominator on a single stage. Behind that is a Pro-Formance ‘Glide with a PTC converter, and a Racecraft nine-inch housing with Strange axles and spool, and Menscer shocks. Optic Armor lexan replaces the factory front windshield and back glass — otherwise it has factory glass, including the T-Tops.

Mangiaracina has had a lot of help from his friends, along with guidance from his father. The best way he knows to keep his mind off everyday life is to get behind the wheel of his Camaro, and hopes to be there more often in 2015. He even has plans to try heads-up class racing this year if his schedule permits.

One of Mangiaracina greatest inspirations for his racing career comes from the tragic loss of his brother Matthew in 2009, however, he knows Matthew is cheering him on during each pass. Racing is a bond Tony and Matthew both shared with their father. There’s an emotional connection to drag racing, and Mangiaracina’s not stopping anytime soon.