A fine art photo of the legendary 'Big Daddy Rat', Karl Smith, has had a love of motorcycles since he was a child. He began attending the famed Daytona Bike week in the early 1960s. Bike Week started in 1937 for enthusiast of the open road, then later it became a brawling bash of motorcycle clubs, who left their mark on Daytona and its residence. The city thought, perhaps, it is best to shut down this yearly mauling of Daytona, because it was no longer a tamed event, but a battle between law enforcement and the motorcycle visitors. When 'Big Daddy Rat' (Karl Smith) stepped in to straighten things up in 1972. He developed a very clever letter writing campaign to all biker magazines and other media publications that 'Daytona Bike Week' had a new image. It was going to be about the most creative custom bikes people could design and build. There would cash prize money, motorcycle shows, drag races, and good eats. 'Big Daddy Rat' turned things around and made Daytona into a first class bike week. People began to come from around the world. Bike builders came from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and even Spain to compete for titles. 'Big Daddy Rat' was also brilliant designer of custom bikes and was the very first to air brush art onto a T Shirt. He had a degree in Fine Art from Ohio's Wittenburg College, but you would have known that by looking at him. Karl opened up his first custom bike shop in Daytona in 1963, which was located on Main Street. It was literally, a hole in the wall space of 12 by 16 feet, which became lovingly known as 'THE RAT'S HOLE'. As Big Daddy's custom bikes became coveted by many motorcyclist, he opened a total of seven bike stores just in Daytona and a gift shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. Big Daddy Rat died during the 2002 Daytona Bike Week. His reign of being head of Bike Week lasted thirty years, from 1972 to 2002. In the biking world he will always be remembered as a First Class Biker Rat.