Obituarys
We lost two in 2002, both from:
Big Daddy Rat's
Rats Hole Custom Chopper Show

"Big Daddy Rat" Karl Smith
died March 4, 2002

"Tiny" John Fischetto
died June 5, 2002

Karl Smith "Big Daddy Rat"
died March 4, 2002
during Bike Week)
above picture: March 6, 2000

Karl Smith "Big Daddy Rat"
Since 1937, thousands of bikers from around the world come to Daytona Beach, Florida to experience Bike Week. For the past 30 years (1972-2002) Karl Smith produced the most prestigious motorcycle shows in the world. His shows were known as: "Big Daddy Rat's" Rat's Hole Custom Chopper Show and were featured annually, not only in Daytona Beach, but also; Sturgis, South Dakota; Essen, Germany and other sites in Europe.
Karl's history
Karl Smith Jr. said when his dad first visited Bike Week in 1963, he "fell in love with Daytona." He started in business on Main Street in a 12-by-16-foot shop aptly named The Rat's Hole. Later, Big Daddy Rat's businesses grew to include seven shops in Daytona Beach, a gift shop in Las Vegas and the bike shows. His son, Karl Jr. said, "My dad was one of the very first to airbrush designs on T-shirts." A man of contradictions, he projected the image of a burly biker, but he was also a graduate with a degree in fine arts from Ohio's Wittenburg College. At the height of his success, his net worth in the mid-80s was reportedly $1.58 million.
Karl helped Bike Week
Karl lent a helping hand between the bikers and the city of Daytona Beach when in the late 80's, working with city leaders, particularly Paul Crow (1988 police chief), Smith helped make the event less about bike gang violence and more a celebration of the more acceptable side of biker culture. At Smith's request, Crow drafted a letter in 1989 promising a friendlier police presence and a more welcome atmosphere. Big Daddy distributed the letter to more than 250 publications around the world -- and Bike Week started enjoying a smoother level of existence from then on.

Big Daddy Rat "Karl Smith" died March 4, 2002, during Bike Week.
Tiny died 3 months later on June 5, 2002

Tiny died June 5, 2002
This picture taken March 9, 2002
during Karl Smith's (Big Daddy Rat) funeral

We only knew him as "TINY"
For most of the years that Karl Smith "Big Daddy Rat" operated his Rat's Hole Custom Chopper Show his biggest and I mean BIGGEST helper was a very colorful character... we all knew him as "Tiny". I don't think many people knew his real name. Even if you pressed him for his real name, he would continuously relent, "my name is Tiny."

Tiny died June 5, 2002. His real name was John Fischetto. But we'll always remember him as "TINY".

Obituary, as posted in Daytona Beach News-Journal newspaper June 11, 2002

John "Tiny" Fischetto
DAYTONA BEACH - John "Tiny" Fischetto, 47, of Taylor Avenue, a restaurant cook, died Thursday, June 5, 2002, at home. Mr. Fischetto moved to this area in 1976 from his birthplace, Long Island, N.Y. Survivors includes his wife of six years, Amy; a daughter, Lisa Fischetto, Hampstead, N.Y.; a stepdaughter, Amanda Fordham, Daytona Beach; and several brothers and sisters. Volusia County Cremation is in charge.