Custom Motorcycles From The 2012 Daytona Rat’s Hole Bike Show

I don’t have yet the list of all winners in each judged class of the 2012 Daytona Rat’s Hole Show held last Saturday March 17. The bikes featured here are all winners but there are many more.  From top to bottom.

1- Best Of Show: Steve Galvin from Wicked Steel. 2- 1st place Cafe Racer Class: Scott Laitinen and Ben Beck, Sic Chops. 3- 1st place Most Unusual Class: Mike Belland, A1 Cycles (also winner of IMS Show in Performance Class) 4- 3rd Place Sport Radical Class: Steve Iacona from Iacona Custom Cycles 5- 2nd place Radical Class: Eric Vauth, House Of Thunder. 6- 1st place Antique Restored Class: JR Schaefer (owner) and John Cunningham from V-Twin (photography courtesy and copyright H. Roesler for Cyril Huze)

8 Responses to “Custom Motorcycles From The 2012 Daytona Rat’s Hole Bike Show”


  1. 1 zyon Mar 22nd, 2012 at 10:30 am

    The first one and the second from the bottom are both really cool but all are nice.

  2. 2 Kevin Boyle Kustoms Mar 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 am

    MIKEY BOY….WOOOOOOP WOOOOP …AWESOME TO HANG/ SEE YOU THERE …LACONIA??

  3. 3 badams Mar 22nd, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    Those House of Thunder guys always put out solid bikes. That one has been alive for years, good to see it still holding court on the show circuit.

  4. 4 Michelle (Beland) Schmoyer Mar 23rd, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    Proud to say that’s my very talented Brother Mike Beland from A1 cycles 3rd picture down on Janet. Congratulations to you Bro!

  5. 5 Horst Roesler Mar 24th, 2012 at 6:41 am

    To add a little bit of information on “Simply the Best”, the bike celebrated its 10th Anniversary and actually premiered at the 2002 Rats Hole Show 30th Anniversary, when it won Best of Show – then “Best Radical over 1000” – and subsequently all following european shows it participated in 2002/2003.
    After BikeWeek I visited Eric Vauth at Miami where he will soon open his new shop http://www.houseofthunderusa.com, both for building Custom bikes, Boss Hoss and several trike brands. We rode around Miami WITH the bike – and it it is still impressive to see it in action. There are no visible controls but two pushbuttons that operate the gears up and down (clutch ist left twistgrip, throttle right) – and shifting very smooth and QUIET!
    We rode the bike in everyday Miami traffic on Monday (Miami traffic sucks…) and it works quite well. Brake operation is via foot pedals (heel) that turn too. The minimalistic Airbrush by Kruse Design is of unchallenged perfection and fits the ultra-clean style of the bike and blends in just perfectly with the new home at Miami Beach’s Art Deco district, where the owner is occassionally living.

    Eric brought the bike to Daytona to see how it would score against todays competition and was very pleased with the 2nd place, which is also thanked to the fact that while riding, spoiler and foot controls are shielded by custom-made leather covers.

    As this sound like a “sales ad” for the bike, I may underline that the machine is NOT for sale!

  6. 6 badams Mar 25th, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    @ Horst:

    those are facts; Of the 1000’s of customs but in the 2000’s, this is one of a few at the top of the list of incredibility well planned and executed. Even better, its show-able today, as well as ridable. This is a rare find, and a true testament to a solid understanding of custom motorcycle design and building.

    Now, as far as the Boss Hoss’……well, coming from Florida I know its a thing down there, but here in California its an epic FAIL.

  7. 7 nicker Mar 30th, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    Cool scooters all.
    Better yet, minimal duplication of design.
    Doesn’t get much better than that.

    -nicker-

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Cyril Huze