5 Minutes with Stacey David
The name Stacey David needs no introduction to most Goodguys members. We’ve been watching him wrench on hot rods and trucks while explaining best practices and parts for more than 25 years. Many readers will recall his early days on “TRUCKS!” back during the Power Block days of cable TV, and for the past 19 years, his own series, “Stacey David’s Gearz.”
Stacey doesn’t shy away from any project, as he’s built everything ranging from huge 4x4s to a Swamp Spryte, a ’40 Chevy coupe to a McLaren M6GT replica, and everything in between. With his YouTube channel he shares all sorts of automotive history, product reviews, and even guitar projects. Stacey has a lot going on and we were lucky to get a few minutes with him to share. For more, you can check out his projects and other builds at Stacey David’s Gearz.
GG: You moved from Idaho to Nashville – was the plan to build hot rods or for playing music?
Stacey David: I moved to Nashville in 1984 after one year of college, in a ’65 Mustang fastback packed with two guitars, an amp, two suitcases, and about $1,000. My goal was to be a professional musician, and I was fortunate enough to do that for about 20 years. Cars and hot rods were always a major part of my life and at that point I had already owned a ’30 Model A coupe and a ’46 Willys CJ2A Jeep with a ’Vette motor in it.
GG: And that move led to the opportunity to open your own shop and eventually the chance to co-host “TRUCKS!”?
Stacey David: Yeah, around 1993 I opened my own custom shop called The Rattle Trap, because I was always showing up for gigs with bloody knuckles and driving some crazy hot rod and people started asking me to build something cool for them. Hot rods, muscle cars, restorations, sports cars, 4×4’s – it didn’t matter, I did them all, because I like them all! So, when the opportunity to host TRUCKS! came up, I had a whole portfolio of custom builds and restorations I could show them.
GG: Had you done any TV before that?
Stacey David: As a musician, I was often in front of cameras doing music videos and TV performances. I also had done some TV commercials and had been an extra in several movies, so I was familiar with being on camera. However, hosting a show requires a different approach. In a normal TV show you never look at the camera, but as a host, your job is to talk directly to the camera. If you are not confident in who you are and what you’re talking about, you’re gonna suck – it’s that simple!
GG: Congrats on season 19 of “Stacey David’s GEARZ.” What are the secrets to the show’s longevity?
Stacey David: Thank you! One of the main reasons the show remains so popular is that GEARZ is about all things mechanical, not just cars or trucks, so you never know what you’re gonna see on it. Also, we never went the way of the “reality show” full of jackassery and fake timelines. GEARZ has always been a how-to show that focused on how to build something cool in your own garage and encouraging people to get out and do it themselves.
GG: From video tapes and broadcasting to digital, social, and streaming, you’ve experienced it all. Are there differences in how you approach producing the show today versus when it started?
Stacey David: Things are always changing, and you have to keep up with them. Segments are shorter, pacing is quicker, and different types of shots are now acceptable. Cameras are smaller and more mobile and there are Go-Pros and drones. These allow us to get shots that just a few years ago were impossible or very expensive. Also, knowing your video will be seen on numerous platforms requires much more pre-planning on how you shoot it and frame it, and even how you word your content.
GG: What advice would you give to an upcoming “Influencer” or DIY hot rodder on social media?
David: Number one is to understand the game! This means how social media works, what it will cost you mentally and physically, how much it pays, how to get paid, etc… This is not just a random, “I guess I’ll try it and see,” kind of deal.
Number two is to be good at something! You can’t be an “influencer” unless you have influence. You get influence by developing a skill or a knowledge that other people want to learn. There are no shortcuts here. Quality always rises to the top, but it takes time to build quality, or a reputation, and this means you. There are millions of people out there posting garbage because they just want to see themselves on camera and be “famous”, but they have nothing to offer. They will quickly fall by the wayside and disappear. If you have something good to offer, people will come back, and bring their friends too.
Number three, stay way from gimmicks and fads. Just be you. If you start playing games and posting clickbait and manipulating the viewers, you are starting to go down the route of the “reality show” and will probably compromise whatever quality and morals you may have for a fleeting boost in views.
GG: What’s the most common question you get asked by viewers?
David: It’s usually about where to find certain products, or what I would recommend for their particular build. I try to encourage them to not get sidetracked, to remain focused on the original goal and vision for the project and make suggestions to help them get there. Sometimes that requires talking them out of the four superchargers they were wanting to put on!
GG: Do you have any favorite build projects?
David: Oh man, that’s impossible to pick just one, since they all come from a special place. There are a few I’m more attached to. The Sgt. Rock ‘41 Dodge WC Power Wagon is one of those. Not only was it about a 10-year build, with thousands of hours invested, but the historical aspect of the truck, as well as its connection to the military and the American spirit, makes it extremely special to me.
GG: Conversely, how about a least favorite project or one that just didn’t quite go as planned – and why?
David: There have been a few that I’ve done for the SEMA show that have been a bit chaotic! I did a custom truck for the GMC booth years ago, and they were pissed when they saw that I shaved all the emblems off the truck. Then a big wig in a fancy suit came up and told me that you NEVER remove emblems off a vehicle for SEMA. I calmly told him that removing gaudy emblems is the FIRST thing you do if you’re a car guy, and pointed at all the people that were standing around admiring the smoothed and lowered the truck. He looked at me and started laughing and we became good friends…and the truck was a huge hit. SEMA builds are always on a ridiculously tight timeline and waiting for the right parts to come in.
GG: Your YouTube Channel covers everything from 4x4s to sports cars, amphibious vehicles, history lessons, and more. Do you have a favorite “non-automotive” pursuit?
David: Well, there is always the guitars and music thing, and I’m still very involved in the Nashville music scene. However, my wife Kathryn and I are also avid outdoors people and dog owners, so it’s not uncommon to see us out on a hiking trail, or somewhere with our big dogs.
GG: What’s the best piece of advice you received early in your career?
David: Well pretty much the whole book of Proverbs is a good place to start! If you really want to know how to succeed in business and life, that’s where you’ll find it! I’ve also gotten many wise words of advice over the years as well. One was from a very successful high school football coach that used to say “there is no such thing as luck – luck is when preparation meets opportunity”
GG: What’s your take on getting younger people involved in hot rodding?
Stacey David: To me it’s very simple – hand them the keys or a wrench and let nature take its course. Back in the day, a car was the doorway to a whole world of freedom and experiences in the garage or racetrack. Today, their phone is opening the door to a new world, but it is a spectator world, not a participant world. We need to get the younger generation involved in cars and make them participants. This means getting them in the seat for a run down the track, or four-wheeling down a creek bank. It means having them in the garage getting dirty building something, even if they mess it up the first few times. No phone can compete with these kinds of experiences!
