S1 Ep74: THIS GUY won F1, NASCAR, Indy, AND Le Mans?!
Only three drivers have won in Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, and Sports Cars. Dan Gurney was the first. Gurney was like the Forrest Gump of cars in the ‘60s and ‘70s, everywhere at once, racing incredible Carroll Shelby designed cars-- then designing cars of his own that won countless events. He’s a guy James WISHES he could be-- the “coolest dude in cars”-- once nominated by Car and Driver to...
50m Apr 05, 2021
50m
S1 Ep73: The Stunt Too Crazy For Evel Knievel
Stunt driving is full of fearless, borderline crazy people. Today on Past Gas, we’re talking about possibly the craziest stunt man of them all. A guy whose stunt was so reckless, even Evel Knievel took a pass. Ken Carter, aka the Mad Canadian, had a dream to jump a mile over a river, in a rocket-powered Lincoln Continental. What would you risk for glory? How dangerous is too dangerous? That and...
49m Mar 29, 2021
49m
S1 Ep72: How Marlboro Bought Off Ferrari For A BILLION Dollars
Today on Past Gas-- the troubled history of tobacco and racing. How and why did a major tobacco company exist without selling any products or services-- while still serving as the title sponsor for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team? How did a cigarette company play a key role in building the NASCAR empire? And how did a former CEO of Marlboro Cigarettes become the head of both Ferrari and F...
47m Mar 22, 2021
47m
S1 Ep71: Are We Actually About to Get Flying Cars?
Does anything symbolize the promise of the future like flying cars? From Star Wars to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from The Jetsons to James Bond, flying cars have captured our imagination, but failed to translate into any sort of reality. Will flying cars ever be safe and practical enough to happen? How would they work? Flying cars always seem right around the corner, but can advancements in batte...
45m Mar 15, 2021
45m
S1 Ep70: Why The 90's Was The Decade Of The SuperCar
Today on Past Gas—why the ’90s was the golden age of supercars! The lightning fast McLaren F1, the objectively sexy Lamborghini Diablo, and the very weird and very amazing Vector W8—are just a few, of the many 90’s exotics, that made our list. How did Muscle Cars pave the path for modern exotics? And what made this era of supercars, ‘super’ special? Join James, Nolan, and Joe, as we turn back t...
52m Mar 08, 2021
52m
S1 Ep69: Why Volkswagen is the Gamestop of Cars
Before Gamestop revolutionized the world of stonks, there was… Volkswagen. Over a decade before Reddit made GME a meme, one of the craziest short squeezes in history involved VW and Porsche. How did VW briefly become the most valuable company in the world? And how did it all go down in flames. On today’s episode of Past Gas, we’re trading in the short shifter for the short squeeze. It’s time to...
44m Mar 01, 2021
44m
S1 Ep68: Land Rovers, Cigarettes, and Thicc Jungle- 20 Years of Camel Trophy
The world renowned Camel Trophy—one of the most brutal adventure driving events, and the ultimate proving grounds for Land Rover’s off-road capability. Crossing jungles and desert, from the Amazon to Borneo, Sumatra to New Guinea, this event was considered to be the “The Olympics of 4x4.” Drivers flocked to the competition, applicants chosen over a million applicants worldwide. The event was n...
54m Feb 22, 2021
54m
S1 Ep67: That Time Ford Tried To Cover Up 271 Deaths (But Got Caught)
Ford and Firestone started as automotive BFFs. The relationship between the two companies-- as well as two wealthy families-- lasted over a century. But starting in the ’80s, a series of disastrous business decisions led to hundreds of lives being lost, and the end of Ford and Firestone working together. What was the human toll, and how did the companies avoid responsibility? Today on Past Gas,...
44m Feb 15, 2021
44m
S1 Ep66: How Niki Lauda Emerged From The Flames An F1 Champion
If you’ve seen the movie Rush, you know the name Niki Lauda. The coldly competitive Austrian F1 driver was most known for his rivalry with British James Hunt, and his horrific crash at the Nurburgring. But who is the man behind the legend? Is he a Terminator, a Rat, or a misunderstood genius who was the first truly technical driver in F1? Today on Past Gas, how a man of steel gave F1 one of its...
1hr Feb 08, 2021
1hr
S1 Ep65: How Lowriders Were A Protest Against White Supremacy
On January 1, 1959, the government of California tried to kill the lowrider movement. But their efforts backfired-- instead giving rise to a golden age of cars that bounced and tilted like magic. Lowriders became a protest movement on wheels. How did conflicts between lowriders and the cops play out? How are lowriders connected to the history of Chicano culture in the US? And who are the modder...
50m Feb 01, 2021
50m
S1 Ep64: How Hot Wheels Forged Drag Racing’s Greatest Rivalry
Remember toy fads like pogs and silly bandz? The ’60s version was Snake and Mongoose, two real life drag racers who got immortalized in diecast form by Mattel. Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen were elite drag racers, but they also became pop culture icons as drag racing reached peak popularity. Who won more races? Why were people going so far as to get Snake and Mongoose ...
1hr 11m Jan 25, 2021
1hr 11m
S1 Ep63: Bertha Benz: Was This The First Road Trip Ever?
Back in the 1870s, Bertha Benz was married to a penniless engineer named Karl Benz. What happened to Karl is now part of German automotive legend-- but Bertha had a crazy part to play in the Benz saga. Today on Past Gas, the story of Bertha Benz’s Big Ride, a 65 mile trek on a Benz Patent Motorwagen through the rugged, treacherous terrain of the Rhine Valley. Along the way, Bertha addressed mec...
53m Jan 18, 2021
53m
S1 Ep62: Colin McRae Pt.2: A Death That Shocked the World
Colin McRae’s motto was “if in doubt, flat out.” This week on Past Gas, we’ll talk about what came next for Colin McRae after winning the WRC, as he continued to race rally, helped launch the most popular rally video game ever, and helped build a legacy that would one day come to an abrupt and tragic end. As a testament to his life, James, Joe, and Nolan will answer the question, once and for a...
54m Jan 11, 2021
54m
S1 Ep61: Colin McRae Pt. 1: Rally's Reckless Messiah
Colin McRae’s motto was “if in doubt, flat out.” Today on Past Gas, we take a look at the Flying Scotsman and how he ruthlessly applied a “flat out” strategy to rally racing, transforming the sport and winning himself millions of fans. Why did Colin get into a shouting match with Subaru teammates on the cusp of winning a world title? What were the most spectacular wipeouts from a driver who was...
47m Jan 04, 2021
47m
S1 Ep60: Hitler’s Racing Program
Just a year before WWII, a 28 year old German driver named Bernd Rosemeyer crashed while driving over 260 miles per hour on a public road, killing him instantly. Just a few years earlier, Rosemeyer had been a humble mechanic, working at his dad’s garage. But now, he was part of a Hitler-funded racing program-- a violent effort to make Nazis the fastest drivers in the world. Today on Past Gas, t...
53m Dec 28, 2020
53m
S1 Ep59: The Greatest Race Ever Happened in 1905
Join Nolan, James and Joe as they explore one of the earliest and most dangerous races to ever exist - a race halfway across the globe, through countless countries and environments. From the muddy mountains of China to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, and that's only the start of it! How they survived, we know not. What we do know is that this is one of the craziest stories ever told. As a listene...
51m Dec 21, 2020
51m
S1 Ep58: The Woman Who Led The Bloody Battle Against GM
Today on Past Gas, we tell the story of Genora Johnson, and a fearless group of women, who helped to organize workers and defeat one of the largest companies in the world-- General Motors. GM once ruled the town of Flint with an iron fist, but employees were fed up with perilous conditions and low pay. The workers took to the streets, but protests quickly turned violent. What were the dangers i...
44m Dec 14, 2020
44m
S1 Ep57: This Guy Bought The Honda F1 Team For $1.46
In 2009, Ross Brawn bought the ENTIRE Honda F1 team for a SINGLE British pound. What came next was a season that went down as the most remarkable David and Goliath story in Formula One history. How did Brawn GP beat other teams, that had been established for decades? What’s the team’s legacy in F1? And how does an F1 team get sold for the price of a candy bar? Today on Past Gas, the incredible ...
50m Dec 07, 2020
50m
S1 Ep56: The World's Most Expensive Car Collection Is Rotting Away
Today on Past Gas-- the Sultan of Brunei, owner of the largest, most expensive car collection of all time. For decades, the Sultan had a shadowy but significant influence on the automotive industry, ordering one-of-a-kind supercars ranging from Ferraris to Aston Martins. Why did the Sultan choose to spend his vast fortune on thousands of cars, worth billions of dollars? Forget barn finds… today...
46m Nov 30, 2020
46m
S1 Ep55: The History of Racing Games Pt. III: The Race To Realism
Gran Turismo. Need For Speed. Dirt. And yes, Mario Kart. These aren’t just some of the best-selling racing video games of all time, they’re some of the best-selling games, period. The evolution of car racing games is full of innovation and gimmicks, hits and flops-- just like the history of cars themselves. So how did we get from dots on a screen to the photo-realistic simulations of 2020? And ...
49m Nov 23, 2020
49m
S1 Ep54: The History of Racing Games Pt. II: How Gran Turismo Happened
Gran Turismo. Need For Speed. Dirt. And yes, Mario Kart. These aren’t just some of the best-selling racing video games of all time, they’re some of the best-selling games, period. The evolution of car racing games is full of innovation and gimmicks, hits and flops-- just like the history of cars themselves. So how did we get from dots on a screen to the photo-realistic simulations of 2020? And ...
53m Nov 16, 2020
53m
S1 Ep53: The History of Racing Games Pt. I: The Arcade Years
Gran Turismo. Need For Speed. Dirt. And yes, Mario Kart. These aren’t just some of the best-selling racing video games of all time, they’re some of the best-selling games, period. The evolution of car racing games is full of innovation and gimmicks, hits and flops-- just like the history of cars themselves. So how did we get from dots on a screen to the photo-realistic simulations of 2020? And ...
50m Nov 09, 2020
50m
S1 Ep52: DeTomaso: The Supercar Designer Who Befriended Dictators
Today on Past Gas, the story of Alejandro de Tomaso, a car-making wheeler-dealer who rubbed elbows with Che Guevera and Elvis Presley. How did this Argentinean playboy build some of the most memorable supercars in auto history, save Maserati from extinction, and survive countless failed business ventures? Was de Tomaso a revolutionary or a failure? A genius or con man? The answer might be all o...
44m Nov 02, 2020
44m
S1 Ep51: Pike's Peak: The Complete History of the World's Highest Hill Climb
Today on Past Gas, James, Nolan and Joe take on the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Known as The Race To The Clouds, Pikes Peak is the premiere event in the sport of hillclimbing. How did Pikes Peak popularize, then revolutionize, the hillclimb? Who drove up the mountain the fastest, and what kind of insane cars did they drive to get up there? All that and more, on a mile-high ep...
47m Oct 26, 2020
47m
S1 Ep50: How GM Built A Car For The Moon
Cars in space! On today’s Past Gas, we go way beyond Elon Musk’s space Tesla and bring you the most amazing stories behind the vehicles that have actually driven on the surfaces of Moon and Mars. We’re asking and answering some of the biggest car questions in the cosmos. Who drove the longest? Who drove the fastest? And what exactly is an “AstroVette”? All that and more on an out-of-this-world ...
54m Oct 19, 2020
54m
S1 Ep49: The Forgotten Cars of Carroll Shelby: LIVE
Have you heard of the Shelby Lancer? Or the Shelby Series 1? Carroll Shelby is well known for the Cobra, his work with Ford on the GT40, and many more, but he also has a trove of lesser known projects that he worked on. This is our first recorded LIVE episode of Past Gas, in which we're taking a look at some of Shelby's forgotten cars, and answering some of your Donut related questions! To get...
1hr 9m Oct 12, 2020
1hr 9m
S1 Ep48: The Murder of Racing Legend Mickey Thompson Pt.2
On March 16, 1988, performance legend Mickey Thompson and his wife Trudy were shot and killed in their own driveway in the wealthy, gated community of Bradbury, California. Their murder was a cold case that would go unsolved for over a decade... although many of Mickey’s friends and family were certain who was to blame. On today’s Past Gas, James, Nolan and Joe explore the bizarre mystery of Mi...
57m Oct 05, 2020
57m
S1 Ep47: The Murder of Racing Legend Mickey Thompson Pt.1
You've probably heard of Mickey Thompson Tires, but behind the treads was a legend who changed the world of drag racing and was once the fastest man on wheels. Tragically, Mickey and his wife were also murdered in perhaps the most bizarre and mysterious true crime of the automotive world. Today on Past Gas, join James, Nolan, and Joe as they explore the Man, the Myth... THE Mickey Thompson. His...
1hr 6m Sep 28, 2020
1hr 6m
S1 Ep46: Michele Mouton, Queen B of Group B
In this episode of Past Gas, we’re talking about badass rally driver Michele Mouton, whose impressive racing career earned her the title of “fastest woman in the world”. In 1981, she made history as the first female to win a World Rally Championship event — a title that no woman has surpassed since. Join James, Nolan and Joe as they explore Mouton’s fortuitous entry into racing, the highs and l...
57m Sep 21, 2020
57m
S1 Ep45: How Japanese Street Racers Created the Best Car Magazine Ever
A decade before JDM reached the US and Europe, Option Magazine was profiling the Midnight Club and the underground street racing scene of Tokyo. The mag's hands-on approach had a huge influence on car culture and played a big role in popularizing all the Japanese tuners we know and love today. Its pages were filled with cars like the GT-R R33, Mazda RX-7, and Toyota Supra. By the end of the epi...
50m Sep 14, 2020
50m
S1 Ep44: The Mid Night Club: Revisited
You guys loved this series, so we decided to bring it back as one episode! James and Nolan explain the origins of the Mid Night Club, an underground Japanese race team with top-secret members that raced around the streets of Japan from 1982 to 1999. The Donut duo explore the lore of the infamous street racers, and pass on a message from an actual member of Mid Night. Get Surfshark VPN at https...
1hr 11m Sep 07, 2020
1hr 11m
S1 Ep43: The Greatest Barn Finds of All Time
A lost and found Ferrari worth millions. A guy named Greek Elvis and his Lamborghini Muira. A FAKE barn find collection that duped the internet. And a Ferrari Dino buried in the backyard. These are just some of the stories we have for you today, it’s all about barn finds! Classic cars forgotten in time, found and brought to life, we love barn finds! Search for Bring Back Bronco - The Untold St...
1hr 4m Aug 31, 2020
1hr 4m
S1 Ep41: The Bizarre Scandal that KILLED the Skyline in America
Today James, Nolan, and Joe are talking about the bizarre scandal that many claim is the reason you can't get the Skyline in America. Motorex was a car import company that was led by Hiroaki Nanahoshi, who was arrested for fraud and held on one million dollars bail, before disappearing for more than ten years. With exclusive interviews from Sean Morris, who was working with Hiro at Motorex befo...
1hr 3m Aug 24, 2020
1hr 3m
S1 Ep42: Introducing: Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story
This week, Past Gas is excited to bring a brand-new podcast, "Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story," a new podcast about the rise, fall, and rebirth of the Ford Bronco. Search for Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here is a link to the episode (%20https://link.chtbl.com/bringbackbronco?sid=podcast.pastgas) . Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support...
36m Aug 24, 2020
36m
S1 Ep39: The Surprising Connection Between the VW Golf and the DeLorean
What does it take to be considered the Car Designer of the Century? Today we’re gonna find out! From the DMC Delorean to the Volkswagen Golf, Giorgetto Giugaro is responsible for some of the most iconic cars of all time, and some of the weirdest. We’re diving into the life of industry great Giorgetto Giugiaro. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey (https://www.instagram.com/jamespumphr...
1hr 11m Aug 17, 2020
1hr 11m
S1 Ep38: The Racing Family that Death Couldn’t Stop - Isle of Man Pt. 2
Today we take a close look at a family whose life has been shaped by the legendary Isle of Man TT motorcycle race. The Dunlop family of Northern Ireland is one of the most decorated dynasties in motorcycle racing. Joey, Robert, Willam and Michael Dunlop have a combined 50 overall wins in the event’s 116 year history. But it hasn’t been all positive for the family, what the road gives in glory, ...
45m Aug 10, 2020
45m
S1 Ep37: The Deadliest Sporting Event On Earth - Isle of Man Pt. 1
In part one of our two-part series on the Isle of Man TT, James, Joe, and Nolan discuss why this race is the most dangerous sporting event on earth! They dive into the unique history of the island and talk about how the race got its start. They also cover the fierce rivalry of Mike "The Bike" Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, two of the most famous TT riders in the world. Stay tuned for an even cr...
1hr 6m Aug 03, 2020
1hr 6m
S1 Ep36: Will There Ever Be Another Rotary? Pt. 2
In part 2 of our series on the Wankel Rotary Engine; James, Nolan, and Joe find out how Mazda made the rotary engine what it is today. They'll discover how Mazda fine-tuned Wankel's design and we're able to win the IMSA GTU Championship SEVEN years in a row, with the famed RX-7. They'll also talk about how the cult classic, 787b, was able to win Le Mans even though they qualified a ridiculous t...
47m Jul 27, 2020
47m
S1 Ep35: The Rotary Before Mazda Pt. 1
Today’s episode is all about the invention of the Wankel Rotary Engine! German inventor Felix Wankel devised “a new type of engine, half turbine, half reciprocating” when he was just 17 years old, but wouldn’t get to see his creation under the hood of a production car for another 45 years. Luckily a lot happened in Felix’s life along the way, including running multiple machine shops in his moth...
55m Jul 20, 2020
55m
S1 Ep34: How NASCAR ROBBED Their First Black Driver - Wendell Scott Pt.2
This week is the conclusion of our Wendell Scott series. Wendell has finally made it to the NASCAR Grand National Series, but his battle against discrimination has only just begun. Join us as we discuss Wendell’s triumphs and unfair setbacks defined by racism, including a stolen win, and a major manufacturer refusing to sponsor the talented Wendell Scott, and his 2015 admittance to the NASCAR h...
55m Jul 13, 2020
55m
S1 Ep33: The FIRST Black NASCAR Driver: Wendell Scott Pt.1
This week we’re telling the inspirational story of NASCAR’s first black driver: Wendell Scott. From helping his dad in the garage as a kid , to becoming his hometown’s fastest cab driver, to moonlighting as a bootlegger, Wendell’s entire life seemed destined for the race track- but it wouldn’t be that easy. Wendell persevered through discrimination off the track, and battled it on the track whe...
52m Jul 06, 2020
52m
S1 Ep32: Duncan Hamilton: This Guy Won Le Mans DRUNK
Today we’re looking into the bonkers life of Duncan Hamilton, the only man to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans drunk behind the wheel. This guy might have the nuttiest story so far on this podcast: from building his own car as a teenager, to surviving back to back sinking ships in World War Two, and surviving multiple crashes on the track. There’s only one Duncan Hamilton! Follow James on IG and Tw...
57m Jun 29, 2020
57m
S1 Ep31: Worst Weekend in Formula 1 History - Senna Pt.4
In our series finale on Ayrton Senna, James, Joe, and Nolan relive that fateful moment on May 1, 1994, when Ayrton Senna crashed while driving in the San Marino Grand Prix. Senna’s’ untimely death at Imola was foreshadowed by multiple devastating crashes, and the death of fellow F1 driver, Roland Ratzenberger, who died on the same track just days before Senna. It was, maybe, the worst weekend i...
59m Jun 22, 2020
59m
S1 Ep30: F1's Conspiracy Against Senna - Senna Pt. 3
In this episode of Past Gas, James, Joe, and Nolan dive into what is potentially the greatest rivalry of all time; Senna Vs. Prost. The rivalry began when Senna joined Mclaren in 1988 and continued until Senna's untimely death. Find out if the FIA played favorites with Prost and much more on this episode of PAST GAS!   Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey  Follow Nolan on IG and Twitte...
1hr 2m Jun 15, 2020
1hr 2m
S1 Ep29: Senna’s F1 Losing Streak - Senna Pt.2
In part two of our four part series on Ayrton Senna, James, Joe, and Nolan dive into Senna’s early years in F1. After his dominance in Formula 3 Senna had a clunky start to his career in the big leagues, largely due to the lackluster cars of small teams like Toleman. However, as we’ll see, Senna’s perseverance would push him on to better teams and better cars. We’ll cover all of Senna’s pivotal...
1hr 3m Jun 08, 2020
1hr 3m
S1 Ep28: Senna: The Early Years - Senna Pt. 1
Today on Past Gas we’re tackling one of our most requested topics- the one and only AYRTON SENNA. Over our 4 part series, we’re gonna look into every aspect of the legendary racer’s career: Today’s ep focuses on Ayrton’s start in karting and jump to British Formula 3. Next week in Part 2, we’ll look at Senna’s early and difficult years in Formula 1, driving for teams like Toleman and Lotus. Par...
50m Jun 01, 2020
50m
S1 Ep27: The BIKER WAR of the 2000s - Hells Angels Finale
In the finale of our series on the Hells Angels, Joe, Nolan, and James see what the infamous motorcycle club has been up to in the 21st century. That's right, we're talking Modern Biker Warfare! We'll cover the Hell's Angels contention for turf in California with rival "MC", The Mongols, and talk about the clubs efforts to protect their legacy through litigation. We also dive into the Angles li...
53m May 25, 2020
53m
S1 Ep26: Worse than Fyre Festival - Hells Angels Pt. 4
As we continue our journey through the history of the now infamous Hells Angels, James, Joe, and Nolan take a thorough look at the event that forever tarnished their name, The Altamont Free Concert. Initially booked as a sister concert to the biggest festival at the time, Woodstock, The Altamont Free Concert almost didn’t happen when security dropped out last minute.  The Hells Angels stepped i...
58m May 18, 2020
58m
S1 Ep25: Hells Angels Vs. Hippies - Hells Angels Pt.3
In part 3 of our deep dive into the hells angels we’re taking a strange and terrible, trip back to the 60’s to see what famed writer/journalist Hunter S. Thompson thought of his time with the Hells Angels. We’ll get an inside look into the motorcycle club that has, perhaps the worst media imagine in history and we’ll find out why Hunter Thompson got beat up by the hells angels. We’ll also discu...
1hr 20m May 11, 2020
1hr 20m
S1 Ep24: Hells Angels Pt.II : The Origins of the Outlaw MC
In this episode of Past Gas James, Nolan, and Joe continue their discussion on the most notorious motorcycle gang out there, The Hells Angels. They talk about how the Hells Angels came to be, covering everything from the famous Hollister Riot to how a staged photo may have been responsible for giving MC’s a reputation they didn’t deserve. This story is about to kick into high gear so stayed tun...
1hr May 04, 2020
1hr