In 1979 Don Baumunk founded “D & D Metalworks” and began fabricating roll cages, suspensions and aluminum bodies for off-road race cars. In the racing industry, Don did work for such names as Don Prudhomne, Ed McCullouch, Joe Amato, and Malcom Smith. In 1989, Don relocated to Grass Valley, CA where he was introduced to a new business opportunity.

The aftermarket gas tank business for the motorcycle industry was a fascinating chance for Don to be creative, exercise his skill and implement his fabricating experience into an exciting new industry.

D & D Became a world leader in hand-made, custom formed gas tanks for the motorcycle industry. They took great pride in producing these fine hand-crafted aluminum and steel gas tanks then, and they are still at it today, nearly 16 years later. Fat Katz gas tanks are among the very best in the world, and are still hand-made in Grass Valley, California.

Where did the name Fat Katz come from? Darlin Baumunk, Don’s wife, came up the name when she recognized that everything D & D made had to be “Fat”. They started to produce the Fat Katz - Kustom Aluminum Tankz, and the rest is history. In the year 2000, they decided to rename the company to reflect the “Fat Katz” image and a new era began.

It was in that same year that they began to produce custom, hand-made fenders for the American motorcycle industry. These hand-made, cold rolled, 13 gauge steel fenders have made a great impact on the industry and models such as the "Vegas" fender have become icons in the industry.