2025 Hall of Fame: Mikey Brown
May 9, 2025
Mikey Brown’s initial fascination with the trades ignited during his childhood, captivated by the inventive spirit of television programs like “Junkyard Wars” and the high-octane builds of “Monster Garage.” As a teenager, he frequently encountered advertisements for WyoTech while watching his favorite shows, yet the institution seemed like a distant prospect for someone from his small hometown. During his high school years, Mikey enrolled in a vocational program for half the day, where he discovered a natural talent for collision and refinishing work. A significant encounter occurred in the paint booth, while he was spraying a work truck, when his instructor introduced him to Anthony Palm, a representative from WyoTech. Mikey immediately connected with Mr. Palm, who later visited his home to invite him for a campus tour. However, upon entering the first classroom, the sheer scale and apparent sophistication of WyoTech led Mikey to believe it was beyond his reach. He expressed his gratitude and initially decided not to pursue it further.
Several months before his high school graduation, Mr. Palm made another visit, curious about Mikey’s change of heart regarding WyoTech. At the time, Mikey was facing challenges while building a hot rod truck. Mr. Palm’s insightful words proved to be a turning point: “Mikey, you can already build cool stuff, but if you don’t leave this gravel road nobody will ever know you exist. You can always come back.” This resonated deeply with Mikey, leading to his immediate enrollment at WyoTech after graduation. His curriculum included Collision/Refinishing and Street Rod, where the guidance of instructor Brian Pierce significantly influenced his future career path.
Mikey’s initial entrepreneurial endeavor involved starting a shop with the ambitious goal of becoming the next Ed Roth, envisioning a widespread enterprise encompassing toy lines, television shows, and merchandise. However, at nineteen, after a nine-month absence from WyoTech, this first business attempt failed, leading him to take a job at O’Reilly Auto Parts. This experience provided Mikey with a renewed appreciation for the training and resources offered by WyoTech and a frank acknowledgment of his previously underutilized potential. This period of reflection spurred a renewed determination for success.
At the age of twenty-two, Mikey reached out to Anthony Palm, seeking another opportunity at WyoTech, this time enrolling in the Trim and Upholstery program. He made a firm commitment to fully capitalize on this second chance, striving for his personal best. Mikey graduated from Trim as the “Outstanding Student”, gaining the confidence to establish his own upholstery shop. He quickly made a name for himself in the upholstery field, which led to an invitation to participate in an Alumni build on the television program “Chop Cut Rebuild,” featuring the “Shagadelic Cruising Van.” This project sparked a new aspiration for Mikey: the creation of his YouTube channel, @PaperToPavement, inspired by his interactions with Dan Woods during the show’s production.
After a decade of significant success in the upholstery industry, Mikey decided to revisit his original dream of achieving prominence in the hot rod world, akin to Ed Roth. The subsequent years have been dedicated to making his mark through the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. For the past two years, Mikey has focused on fully hand-built projects, often constructed from repurposed materials within strict budgets. Having reached the world finals twice, Mikey continues his journey, empowered by the foundational skills acquired at WyoTech, which has now led to his induction into the Hall of Fame.