Rat’s Hole Custom Show 2002
Words and pics: Rich

The Rat's Hole Custom Show is an institution. Not just at Daytona Beach's infamous Bike Week in March, although that was the original, and possibly the best version of the show that has gone international, but also at Sturgis, as well as in Italy and Germany. Blimey. But for all its international success, The Rat's Hole in Daytona is one, if not the motorcycle custom show to win.

This year's Bike Week show was held in the familiar venue of The Adventure Landing Water Park on Earl Street on March 9th 2002, a cracking place where the palms, tranquil blue waters and pastel painted curvy concrete set the customs off a treat. This year was overshadowed by the death just a few days earlier of the Rats Hole's colourful and outspoken promoter, Karl 'Big Daddy Rat' Smith, aged 74, who'd passed away at his daughter's house on March 4th. Showing extraordinary resilience, the family decided the show must go on this year, and even allowed the body to be laid in state at the event for people to pay their last respects. Big Daddy Rat is credited by many to be one of the original visionaries: he understood the importance of the burgeoning custom scene in the early seventies, and the result was his Rats Hole Show, held during the wild rally that was Daytona Bike Week. He will be sorely missed. He started something big …

Put quite simply, and I believe very accurately, the Rats Hole Custom Show - at least the Daytona original - is one of the best custom shows on Earth. The Daytona show is packed to the rafters with hotly competing incredible custom motorcycles, every single one of which would walk away with Best in Show trophies if they were shown elsewhere. Here they are fighting head-to-reworked aftermarket head.

Very famous names, with very successful custom businesses take this show, and few others, very, very seriously indeed. Perhaps the Rats Hole can be seen as an equivalent of a heat of the Motorcycle Grand Prix, like Donington or something. The Grand Prix sees major manufacturers in hot competition with each other using one-off thoroughbred machines, and indeed sponsoring talented privateers. What they learn from the experience can possibly be seen later in improvements to the motorcycles they produce for sale to the public … and of course, the publicity. To be crowned the best in the world at what they do is priceless.

For any custom bike builder, anywhere on the planet, to have a motorcycle entered in the show is an almost unbelievable achievement To have their motorcycle win is an accolade most dare not even think about. But to everyone else who attends the show, to gape in wonder and respect at the serried ranks of stunning motorcycle art, I don't think they actually give a damn who actually wins: I don't certainly, the spectacle is more than enough.

Ooh but hark! Again you hear the raised voices of the jealous harpies - irritatingly whining that the Daytona Beach Rats Hole Show is exclusive and elitist. That any bike entered would certainly need to have had thousands spent on it … and besides, none of them actually run anyway. Well, the voices will be there, and will make themselves heard, but me? I'm not so damn sure.

So the bikes don't run huh? Perhaps some don't. Perhaps. I'm not party to the conditions of entry to the show, and the Rats Hole site is a couple of years out of date, but I wouldn't be so sure anyway. The show is a tad more street level than you would guess at first - and having personally witnessed many of the 2002 entries roaring around Daytona Beach before and after the show, many definitely do run - if not all.

And the show is exclusive, elitist and all entries must have had thousands spent on them? That one is a definite 'no'. Yeah you do get the big FO vees in the 'unlimited' and 'street race' classes, and yes they are just awesome: time, effort and a lot of money are evident everywhere, but not all of them are megabuck specials and the show has other classes besides. The rat bikes, trikes and three-wheelers display as much creativity on a budget as you'd see anywhere, while the pretty black girl modelling with her own tasteful and cleverly modified custom Sporty in the 'Sportster' class - and her teenage mates - would certainly disagree, as would the guys entering sweet Brits and classic two-stroke Aermacchi Hogs alongside well-used Crockers in the under 750/800cc class. As usual, people who've never been, and probably never intend to go, know all there is to know about it … tossers.

Okay, so something extremely pretty, extensively modified and incredibly expensive won 'Best of Show.

Possibly.

Dunno.

Don't care really.

Does anyone except the entrants? I'd guess not, the Rats Hole Show during Daytona Bike Week is one of the 'must see' events during a whole week of other jaw-dropping happenings. Many … no, most of the motorcycles on display, competing in the Florida sunshine are quite staggering, and I reckon that's probably enough for anyone …

… except the builders.