Tell your Uncle Mike Story
We all have one. I once traded an entry to Rats Nest for some eggs....right from his animals. I could tell 100 more. Below is a form for you to tell your story about Uncle Mike, and we will share it with the world. If you came in contact with Uncle Mike, you are better for it.
tell your story here!
I came to a bad place in my life and I needed to move and I was unable to take my Mastiff that I had for 5 years with me. I was at The Rat's Nest talking to some folks and someone mentioned that Uncle Mike/ Mountian Mike heard I was asking around and he was interested. So I introduced them to Adonis and he fell in love with him and I brought him up to his house it killed me to give my dog up but there is not a better home that I could have given that dog. I stayed in contact with Mike and he told me that he understood why I bowled my eyes out when I left Adonis with him he was like he is exactly what I was looking for he is the best dog ever thank you so much and that made me feel so good and so grateful that I had found my best friend a perfect home. And I love Mike for that.
Fawn Perotti
Hello my name is Amanda Tarolli and is a true honor to call myself uncle Mike’s friend. I found this extremely difficult to write. I’m going to try my best. Six years ago, I stumbled upon a car show that changed my life forever. My mother had just fought a courageous battle of terminal cancer. I needed to get away from Syracuse and I took the ride to the Blackthorn resort the rats nest run in. Little did I know what I was just about to stumble upon.I remember my feet weren’t on the ground five mins & I was being introduced to everyone in the swap meet row … you gotta meet uncle Mike come on Amanda this way I can hear Danny now… no clue id end up sitting there talking for 3 hours about welding & goats and gardening and honey bees but the best damn choice I ever made!! After that uncle mikes blue camper was a staple one of my first stops when I’d pull in the show .. a sense of home I’m laughing and crying writing this because I can’t even put into words the feeling of seeing that blue camper for the first time all year like it’s that family member on Christmas that you wait all year to see the cool Uncle. The one that would bust my chops listen to all my Crazy wing nut ideas & talked me into buying my first miller welder when I insisted it’s what I needed haha this summer I had the pleasure to being set up next to uncle mikes spot which meant I got to talk to him all day. Thursday when the show started, I got to facetime my favorites from Legacy Row. Everyone’s complaining where the hell are you?! Uncle Mike says he’d hook me up with a bunch of parts for my derby car He was pretty determined I entered the derby car race only if would be sponsored by “uncle mike garage “ he brought me bunch of cool parts & said okay what did you bring .. it was a can of black spray paint & a blow dryer & some glitter… the look on his face! I could go on forever laughing about the ways I would pester uncle Mike or have him holding on to his hat wondering what is she going to do next.. I keep thinking about the impact he made on the show especially with the kids I watched him one summer teach a buddy of mines grandson to buy sell & trade took the kid under his wing again another feeling I can’t even put into words just pure GOLD uncle Mike had a heart of gold. Saying goodbye to him this year at the show he made fun of me for crying! Chin up kid see ya next year was his last words to me. So it’s not goodbye it’s see ya in August see ya at the show I know I will see Uncle Mike in each and everyone of you guys at rats nest 2026 a part of uncle Mike will forever glimmer in everyone’s heart he was able to touch. Now let’s burn some rubber in honor of one of the real “O.G’s” of Leagcy Row the Swap meet crew UNCLE MIKE
Mike has been a very close friend to the Fiore family since we bought property in Round Top over 25 years ago. My dad, Rich, would bring me over to Unlce Mike’s all the time as a kid so I could play with baby bunnies and chicks. Today we own The Maple Lawn Hotel. Our properties back up to each other, so we were together all the time. Whenever friends or family came to visit us, we always made time for a stop at Uncle Mike’s. Any friend of yours was a friend of his. He was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. Getting to see his cool metal work and getting to feed all his farm animals my whole life is something I will never forget. Mike taught us all the true meaning of friendship, and for that we are forever grateful.
Uncle Mike was a friend of my moms younger sister and he and the guys (Alvar, Richie, Robert & Arthur) would spend the weekends at our house raising hell … we’re talking late 70’s early 80’s — riding motorcycles, snowmobiles, shooting guns … and simply having a good time!
He had this light blue station wagon that had an 8-track player (I remember listening to Warren Zevon, Meatloaf, Cat Steven’s). Man those tapes were huge and only a few could fit in the glove box with the deck and the whistle — yes, he hooked up a metal pull that you can control a whistle! He’d ride behind cars and make it sound like a siren and people would look around or make the wit-woo sound … always a jokester!
He eventually ended up marrying my aunt but after they split, well, kept him in the divorce!
Uncle Mike was a big kid himself, always playing around, making jokes, laughing, teasing but what was most important was his love— all he did was lend a hand and make all the kids feel loved. Where there were kids, there was Uncle Mike. But never cross him or you were dead to him!
His love for kids, animals, his friends and family and more importantly his grandchildren — there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them.
I can go on and on but I wanted to thank Brian for helping us with his memorial. I knew Brian but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized Brian knew my uncle. When I brought this to Brian’s attention he laughed it off and said something like — yeah, he’s everyone’s uncle. So I say - no, he’s REALLY my uncle! And the rest is history.
Life brings people together and it’s no surprise to me that Brian befriended him; they had a LOT in common!!
Anyway, thank you all for your memories as I will cherish them forever.
I love you Munk the Punk!