Raised in Idaho, Stacey David earned his reputation as the local hot-rodder by driving his 1930 5-window coupe to school every day. “It was a real hot rod . . . fast and dangerous! It’s a wonder I’m still alive!” His intrigue for all things with a motor started way before that. Stacey helped restore his first car when he was 12 years old—it was his sister’s 1963 VW bug. But even before that he was building blindingly fast go-karts with 440 snowmobile engines! However, it was Stacey’s Dad’s old flat fender Willys Jeep that ignited his passion for 4-wheel drive and off-roading that continues to this day.
In college at Boise State University, when Stacey was suppose to be studying Biology, he was instead learning performance driving at the local tracks and taking in all the information he could about the “Greats” like Richard Petty, Don Garlits, and Carroll Shelby. “I like it all! If it will run, I want to drive it.” Stacey also became a student of the unique building techniques of George Barris, John Buttera and Darryl Starbird - to name a few. “I’ve always wanted something unique (to drive) that no one else had, and I found that the only way to get that was to build it.”
Stacey came to Nashville and opened his own custom shop called “The Rattletrap” that specialized in everything from engine building to custom paint jobs, suspension work, metal fabrication, and everything in between. It was here that he continued to build a reputation designing and building, as well as restoring cars and trucks or whatever else could be dragged in!
In the late 1990s, Stacey had the opportunity to host a new show called TRUCKS! He jumped at the chance and hosted/produced the show for the next 8 years. Unlike most hosts of automotive programming, Stacey did all the designing and building himself. It quickly became obvious to the viewers that Stacey was more than a talking head—this guy knew what he was doing! His loyal fan base grew steadily over the years and made the show the most popular in Spike TV’s weekend line up. In fact, the show maintained the highest viewership for automotive/how-to programming since the show first aired in 1998 and quickly became one of Spike TV’s highest rated shows overall!
Stacey is a member of the Goodguys Rod and Custom Association, Kustoms of America, as well as numerous other clubs and organizations. He also contributes various tech and how-to articles and does personal appearances at large-venue events when time allows.
And don’t tell Stacey we told you, but he’s really an awesome musician. True to Stacey’s passion, he played professionally for years as a way to raise money for his next automotive project—how’s that for turning convention on its head!
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