IT is -20 degrees outside tonight... COLD!!! My 175w MV lamp wont even FIRE UP in its ballast!

Gosh.... very cold. i wonder if the cold messes up the lit lights!

would they?

  That's cold,yes the cold will effect the start-up of some lamps,especially the Chinese ones.

I've noticed it with Regents, but also with Philips lamps.  The Philips lamp that came with my first mercury vapor fixture refused to start if it was colder than -15°F.  I replaced it with a deluxe white GE and had very few problems with it.

What kind of bulb is in your 175w MV?

This one:

CLICKY HEREY

That picture is the lamp that is in there. the pic was taken before it was IN there though.

But it has warmed up a lot since then.

ATM it is +20 degrees. 40 degrees warmer than that night. the cold front is gone now. FINNALY.

The Philips mercury lamps supplied with AE/Electripak fixtures where known to be problematic in cold weather.  Around here, it is a common sight to see such security lights with stuff over the photocells to keep the lights on in cold weather.  Same holds true for Caster and Regent lamps.

Have you tried a lifeguard bulb I think it would work better then the Chine ones.