Stacey David
Encyclopedia
Stacey David is the host of the TV series GearZ on Speed TV
. He has worked on numerous vehicle modification and repair projects. Many of these projects are unique in terms of the final results.
The types of vehicles Stacey works on range from off-road four wheel drive
s to hot rod
street trucks to around the woods all-terrain vehicle
s -- or just about anything else that has an engine and some way to steer it. There are rumors that he's pretty good on the guitar as well. At one point, Stacey even played professionally so that he could finance his projects.
club driving a 1930 5 Window Coupe to school every day. David has had a fascination for motor vehicles for as long as he can remember.
By installing 440cc snowmobile
engines, he was able to make his go-karts lightning fast even before he was a teenager. At the age of twelve, he did his first restore on his sister's 1963 Volkswagen Beetle
. However, it was his father's flat fender Willys
Jeep
that became the precursor to his passion for Four Wheel Drive
and off-roading
.
During his college days at Boise State University
, he spent the time that would have otherwise been spent in a "boring" Biology class learning how to race
at the local tracks. While there, he absorbed everything he could about racing legends such as Richard Petty
, Don Garlits
, and Carroll Shelby
.
Stacey's desire to own and drive a completely unique vehicle led him to the best way (in his opinion) to achieve this goal - to build it yourself. In order to fulfill that goal, he became a student of legendary hot-rodders (custom car
builders) George Barris
, John Buttera and Darryl Starbird
.
With those skills now in hand, Stacey went to Nashville and opened up his own custom car
shop named "Rattletrap." He continued to build his reputation by working on whatever happened to be pushed, pulled, or dragged into his shop. The services the "Rattletrap" offered included engine building, custom paint, fabrication, and more.
Stacey's career took a turn to TV land when, in the late 1990s, he was offered a position to host the TV series Trucks!
. Eager to seize the opportunity, Stacey joined Mel Fair to host the show beginning in its 1999 season. In 2000, however, Fair left the show and Stacey remained the only host.
During the eight years he was the host of Trucks!
, the show became one of the highest rated shows on Spike TV
's weekend lineup. This was due, in part, to the fact that Stacey both designed and built his own projects, unlike many other shows during the same time frame. The show maintained the highest viewership of any automotive how-to television show throughout the years Stacey hosted Trucks!
.
Stacey continued to host and produce the show until the end of the 2005 season, when he chose to pursue, in his own words, "other opportunities". On March 31, 2007—and a bit before that for his loyal fan base—the meaning of "other opportunities" was revealed as a new show called “Stacey David’s GearZ”, airing on ESPN2
.
Season two of GearZ moved to the Speed Channel
, with the first episode premiering February 23, 2008.
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
. He has worked on numerous vehicle modification and repair projects. Many of these projects are unique in terms of the final results.
The types of vehicles Stacey works on range from off-road four wheel drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
s to hot rod
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
street trucks to around the woods all-terrain vehicle
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
s -- or just about anything else that has an engine and some way to steer it. There are rumors that he's pretty good on the guitar as well. At one point, Stacey even played professionally so that he could finance his projects.
Biography
Stacey David was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. He earned his reputation in the hot rodHot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
club driving a 1930 5 Window Coupe to school every day. David has had a fascination for motor vehicles for as long as he can remember.
By installing 440cc snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
engines, he was able to make his go-karts lightning fast even before he was a teenager. At the age of twelve, he did his first restore on his sister's 1963 Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
. However, it was his father's flat fender Willys
Willys
Willys was the brand name used by Willys-Overland Motors, an American automobile company best known for its design and production of military Jeeps and civilian versions during the 20th century.-Early History:In 1908, John Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of Standard Wheel Company...
Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
that became the precursor to his passion for Four Wheel Drive
Four Wheel Drive
The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
and off-roading
Off-roading
Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
.
During his college days at Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
, he spent the time that would have otherwise been spent in a "boring" Biology class learning how to race
Racing
A sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
at the local tracks. While there, he absorbed everything he could about racing legends such as Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
, Don Garlits
Don Garlits
Donald Glenn "Don" Garlits is considered the father of drag racing. He is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. Always a pioneer in the field of drag-racing, he, with the help of T.C...
, and Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby is an American retired automotive designer and racing driver. He is most well known for making Mustangs for Ford Motor Company known as Mustang Cobras which he has done since 1965...
.
Stacey's desire to own and drive a completely unique vehicle led him to the best way (in his opinion) to achieve this goal - to build it yourself. In order to fulfill that goal, he became a student of legendary hot-rodders (custom car
Custom car
A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been modified in either of the following two ways. First, a custom car may be altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission. Second, a custom car may be a personal "styling" statement, making the car look...
builders) George Barris
George Barris (auto customizer)
George Barris is a designer of custom cars.-Early history:George and his brother Sam were born in Chicago in the 1920s. After the deaths of their parents, they moved to Roseville, California as children to live with relatives. Both were good students, interested in drama, music, and design...
, John Buttera and Darryl Starbird
Darryl Starbird
Darryl Starbird is an American custom car and hot rod designer and builder, known for his innovative and futuristic space-age car designs, often featuring bubble tops...
.
With those skills now in hand, Stacey went to Nashville and opened up his own custom car
Custom car
A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been modified in either of the following two ways. First, a custom car may be altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission. Second, a custom car may be a personal "styling" statement, making the car look...
shop named "Rattletrap." He continued to build his reputation by working on whatever happened to be pushed, pulled, or dragged into his shop. The services the "Rattletrap" offered included engine building, custom paint, fabrication, and more.
Stacey's career took a turn to TV land when, in the late 1990s, he was offered a position to host the TV series Trucks!
Trucks!
Trucks! is an American television program that airs weekends as a part of Spike TV‘s Powerblock. It is hosted by Kevin Neils Tetz and Ryan Shand...
. Eager to seize the opportunity, Stacey joined Mel Fair to host the show beginning in its 1999 season. In 2000, however, Fair left the show and Stacey remained the only host.
During the eight years he was the host of Trucks!
Trucks!
Trucks! is an American television program that airs weekends as a part of Spike TV‘s Powerblock. It is hosted by Kevin Neils Tetz and Ryan Shand...
, the show became one of the highest rated shows on Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
's weekend lineup. This was due, in part, to the fact that Stacey both designed and built his own projects, unlike many other shows during the same time frame. The show maintained the highest viewership of any automotive how-to television show throughout the years Stacey hosted Trucks!
Trucks!
Trucks! is an American television program that airs weekends as a part of Spike TV‘s Powerblock. It is hosted by Kevin Neils Tetz and Ryan Shand...
.
Stacey continued to host and produce the show until the end of the 2005 season, when he chose to pursue, in his own words, "other opportunities". On March 31, 2007—and a bit before that for his loyal fan base—the meaning of "other opportunities" was revealed as a new show called “Stacey David’s GearZ”, airing on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
.
Season two of GearZ moved to the Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
, with the first episode premiering February 23, 2008.