Biographie
Steve Carpenter, stunt driver and hot-rod builder, is known as the "Gasser King" for his showy, high front end, hot-rod builds, all of which are inspired by his father, Phillip Carpenter, a hot rodder from Boise, Idaho, who raced '55 Chevy's in the Northwest including oval track and road racing. After the family moved to California, Phil became Executive VP for Argus Publishing (Super Ford, Super Chevy, Popular Hot Rodding, 1001 Truck & Van Ideas). Hot rodding DNA and music runs rampant in Carpenter blood.
Steve's own street freak kick started young (age 8), right after his Dad bought him an Ed Roth t-shirt. Steve grew up to build Rat Fink style gassers recalling, "they appeal to all hot rod enthusiasts and kids think they're fun." His signature look requires authentic parts, perfection and attention to detail. Steve has completed several award-winning show cars including Midnight Mayhem, Asphalt Animal, the Tophat T and "Blue Magic" as well as the original series of Galpin gassers. He jokes, "the higher they are, the harder they are to drive and that's the way I like it." You will always find Steve at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV. He is a member of The Motion Picture Car Club.
Steve was professionally driving at age 14 (he lied and said he was 16) in Figure 8, demolition derby, jalopy stock, late model sportsman, sprint cars and of course illegal drag racing. He claims, "I would race anything: a tractor, a street bike even a Ford Pinto wagon. At every stop light, I had to be first. It drove me crazy. Two things I always did well: driving and cars." Now older, wiser and married with a son, Steve is building the vehicles he grew up having love affairs with. Not for kids, his street legal beasts are meant for a driver, like a thoroughbred racehorse, you need to know how to handle big power. His builds are crowd pleasers at shows and gets loads of attention.
Steve Carpenter has completed several hotrods seen in TV/Film projects such as Knight Rider and Kick Ass (with Nicolas Cage/he builtand drove the Red Mustang) including his own print media/show grabbing hotrods such as "The Asphalt Animal"- a 1955 Chevy Gasser and 'Midnight Mayhem"-a 1956 Chevy 210 Gasser. He is responsible for several Galpin Motorsports show cars such as the gold Chevy gasser and others for the brand. Steve's personal cars are frequently seen at car shows in the Meguiar's Car Care Products booth. Hot-rodding was always geared toward the camaraderie between the racer and the audience and Steve Carpenter is one of those rodders.
Steve has won several awards and is used as a tech consultant for high performance or gasser builds along with his build team. He is credited with wins for the 2015 Street Machine Nationals, 2015-2016 Grand National Roadster Show, Kids Pick, People's Choice etc. His cars are meant to be driven, to have fun with and inspire other hot rodders. He also credits his team of great friends for making it happen. A Steve Carpenter build is a beastly, rubber burning hot-rod that's break windows while exhaust rapping. And that my friends, is the true hallmark of a "Gasser King gasser." His motto: "Drive the street, race the track,"
He resides in California with his family, a dog and several cars.
