S1 Ep132: The Sainz Family Has Rally AND F1 Racing In Their Blood
The Sainz family is indisputably racing royalty-- in rally AND F1. How does a father’s legendary WRC career translate to a son’s success in the most elite motorsport on earth? What do Carlos Sainz Sr. and Jr. have in common? How are they different? Can driving be in your DNA? Today on Past Gas, we discuss the legendary career of Carlos Sainz Sr. and what it could mean for one of Formula One’s r...
41m May 16, 2022
41m
S1 Ep131: James Hunt Was F1's Most Troubled Star
James Hunt is known as the out of control rockstar of F1. At his peak, he was one of the most colorful figures in the history of Grand Prix racing. How did he hit his peak for a legendary season of racing? How did his rivalry with Niki Lauda shape him? And how did his partying and self-destructive behavior eventually cost him… everything? You may think you know James Hunt, but there’s much more...
56m May 09, 2022
56m
S1 Ep130: The Carrera Panamericana Is One Of The Most Dangerous Races Ever
Some call it the most dangerous event in Mexican history… and with a mortality rate of five people killed every year, it certainly proved deadly to participants and spectators alike… Today on PAST GAS, we’re taking a trip to the Sierra Madres and looking back on the original Carrera Panamericana, also known to friends, acquaintances and loved ones as carrera de la muerte… the race of death. Mo...
46m May 02, 2022
46m
S1 Ep129: Monster Trucks Took Project Cars To The Extreme
Giant vehicles crushing rows upon rows of junker cars in a massive, dirt-filled arena packed to the gills with screaming fans of all ages. Today on Past Gas… MONSTER TRUCKS! From USA-1 to Gravedigger, what are the craziest monster trucks ever? What were the big rivalries in the sport? Who were the monstrous innovators who brought these Frankensteinian creations to life? Buckle up, slap on that ...
48m Apr 25, 2022
48m
S1 Ep128: Jeff Gordon’s Legacy Was Tested By Tragedy...and the Tabloids
Jeff Gordon’s career thus far was as close to a fairytale as one can get. Before the age of 30 he had won three championships, barely missing out on a fourth, while becoming the face of NASCAR. With the joy of his early success came also the burden of high expectations. Today on Past Gas: Could Jeff Gordon continue to meet sky high expectations and become the greatest driver of all time? More ...
43m Apr 18, 2022
43m
S1 Ep127: Jeff Gordon Made NASCAR Mainstream
Today on Past Gas… Jeff Gordon! How did a kid who grew up 20 miles from San Francisco take over a rugged sport which sprung from the illicit moonshine running business in the south? What made Gordon so good at such a young age? How would Jeff navigate the fever of fame? Did his popularity in the media ultimately overshadow his abilities as a race car driver? More about Show: Follow James on ...
38m Apr 11, 2022
38m
S1 Ep126: The Man Behind One of F1's Most Legendary Names
As a mechanic and engineer, Jack Brabham brought ideas to the forefront of automotive construction that would have a lasting effect on the game. And as a race car driver, he brought a wild and unruly Australian flavor to the track - putting Oz on the racing map for decades to come. How did one Aussie from humble beginnings turn into an innovative racer, engineer, a three time Formula One World ...
38m Apr 04, 2022
38m
S1 Ep125: Why 1973 Was The Worst Year for Cars
1973 was undeniably the worst year in nearly a century of American cars. Why were Americans so scared of running out of gas they were brawling at the pumps? How and why did American manufacturers make undeniably inferior cars for over a decade– and how did they dig themselves out of a mess that was largely of their own creation? Today on Past Gas we’re diving into the dark history of the Malais...
38m Mar 28, 2022
38m
S1 Ep124: F1 Owes Everything to Adrian Newey’s Car Designs
Even if you don’t know the name Adrian Newey, you know his accomplishments. Considered to be one of the best engineers, designers and technical directors in history, Adrian Newey cars– and the copycats he inspired– dominated racing for over two decades, winning a stunning number of Grands Prix and Championship titles in the process. Six different drivers have won the Drivers’ Championship behin...
37m Mar 21, 2022
37m
S1 Ep123: Smokey Nagata Sparked A Tuning Revolution
Smokey Nagata is most famous-- or infamous-- for driving his gold-painted Toyota Supra 200 miles per hour on a UK public highway. It made him perhaps the most famous outlaw in Japanese automotive history. How did Smokey Nagata become one of the world’s top tuners? What’s so secret about his legendary custom cars? And is the nickname ‘Smokey’ as obvious as it seems? Today on Past Gas: the story ...
40m Mar 14, 2022
40m
S1 Ep122: The Smartest, Funniest and Cringiest Car Ads of All Time
From “The Ultimate Driving Machine” to “Like A Rock”, iconic auto slogans and images have embedded themselves into our collective psyche, and some have even redefined advertising as a whole. What makes a great car ad? What cultural moments have influenced the best commercials, and what companies have taken the biggest advertising risks? Today on Past Gas: some of the most game-changing, culture...
34m Mar 07, 2022
34m
S1 Ep121: Tucker 48: Stroke of Genius, or Scam?
The Tucker 48 may be the most innovative, ahead-of-its-time car you’ve never heard of. How did the Tucker Corporation of the 1940s develop one of the most radical designs cars of all time, then fail to get it in the hands of customers? Just what innovations did Tucker pack into his futuristic 48? And how did it all end in an all-out battle with the American government? Today on Past Gas we’re t...
44m Feb 28, 2022
44m
S1 Ep120: The Most Exciting 24 Hours In Sports
The Le Mans 24-Hour Race is not just one of the most famous auto races in the world, it’s one of the most famous sporting events-- period. What makes Le Mans so special? Why is it often referred to as the “most thrilling 24 hours in motorsports?” Today on Past Gas, how Le Mans became an icon in Europe, Hollywood, and beyond. More about Show: Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey (htt...
45m Feb 21, 2022
45m
S1 Ep119: John Force Took Funny Cars to the Extreme
John Force is the king of Funny Cars… but what ARE funny cars? Why are they called “funny cars,” when the sport itself is deadly serious? How did John Force become the winningest driver in Funny Cars by an insanely huge margin? These deafeningly loud, near-7000 horsepower cars are part of drag racing history, and we sprint through their story… TODAY on Past Gas! More about Show: Follow James...
48m Feb 14, 2022
48m
S1 Ep118: These Car Gimmicks Failed Spectacularly
A big ol’ slab of granite… A convenient keychain murder alarm… A steering wheel shaped like a Pop Tart… These are among the many innovations that at one point or another automakers have decided should come with their cars. Why? Only God and Henry Ford know the answer. Buckle your automatic seat belt, because today on Past Gas we’ve collected some of the most unusual, unnecessary, and downright ...
51m Feb 07, 2022
51m
S1 Ep117: The Race To Build A 200mph Production Car
Today on Past Gas, it’s a sprint AND a marathon– inside the decades-long quest to build a production car that could hit two hundred miles per hour. Was it even possible for a land-based vehicle to reach 200mph? And if it was, could it be mass-produced? What companies joined in on the cut-throat race to shatter the 200mph barrier? Who were the madmen that actually made it happen? And did yet ano...
48m Jan 31, 2022
48m
S1 Ep116: RC Cars Are Crazy Fast Now
Remote-control or radio-control racing – RC, as it’s known to fans – isn’t a new phenomenon. Since its invention in 1966, there’s arguably no greater thrill for a young car nut than receiving a kickass remote control car as a gift. You may have loved crashing them together as a kid, but how much do you know about remote control cars? Where’d they come from? How fast can they go? Our subject mat...
55m Jan 24, 2022
55m
S1 Ep115: Amazing JDM Barn Finds
Why don’t you see many old cars driving around Japan? Why does it take a massive disaster to stockpile some of the most desirable JDM cars? What is “Shaken,” and why is it stirring up the auto industry in Japan so much that people just don’t want to drive old cars? Today on Past Gas, it’s a very JDM edition of BARN FINDS! More about Show: Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey (https:...
43m Jan 17, 2022
43m
S1 Ep114: This Was F1's Most Successful Family
The Fittipaldis are arguably the most dominant family dynasty in Formula One history. How did Emerson Fittipaldi open the door for a whole slew of Fittipaldis to join the F1 paddock? How did his older brother, Wilson, fare as an F1 driver? And which one of Emerson’s offspring could be the first to follow in his footsteps to become an F1 champion? All that and more on today’s Past Gas - Emerson ...
54m Jan 10, 2022
54m
S1 Ep113: Steve McQueen Was The O.G. Car Nerd
Hi everybody I’m Nolan from Past Gas by Donut Media, we’re an automotive history show. Its kind of like hanging out in the garage with your friends, listening to them tell a story from automotive history! Fast cars and big movies are as American as Abraham Lincoln. From the Delorean to the Batmobile, superstar cars and the badasses who drive them have been woven into the fabric of American cul...
44m Jan 03, 2022
44m
S1 Ep112: The Bizarre Battle Over... Seatbelts??
Driving is dangerous! You may think that safety measures would be a popular and easy win for the automobile industry, but it wasn’t always that way. Why would the auto industry collude to prevent important environmental pollution-control devices? Why were Americans so anti-seatbelt that, as one Michigan legislator called it, they fought for their right to fly through a windshield? Today, on Pas...
52m Dec 27, 2021
52m
S1 Ep111: Jeeps Aren’t What They Used To Be
Today on Past Gas… Jeep! How did the Jeep teach Europe what Freedom was really about? What does their decades-long progression say about the brand that is synonymous with the 4x4? Jeeps started their history as the automotive equivalent of a decorated war hero, but have they lost their way? All that and more, on a hella yella (that’s the official name of Jeep yellow) episode of the podcast! Mo...
37m Dec 20, 2021
37m
S1 Ep110: How Soichiro Honda Built A $200 Billion Automotive Powerhouse
When you hear “Honda Motor Company”, what comes to mind? Reliability? Safety and simplicity? A company that sells its products to more than 140 countries around the world? How about revolutionary innovation? Today on Past Gas, Honda’s breakthroughs, and how their continued success can be traced back to their singular, eccentric founder: a four-foot eleven-inch visionary named Soichiro Honda. M...
40m Dec 13, 2021
40m
S1 Ep109: The Ugliest, Weirdest, and Most Expensive Concept Cars of All Time
Today on Past Gas, CONCEPT CARS. They’ve always reflected our visions for the automotive future, inspiring and provoking car fans with often impractical designs and features. How do they reflect our greatest hopes, dreams, and failures? What madness fuels the creativity behind these amalgamations of fiberglass, clay, and sheet metal? What company took the idea of the concept car too far? All th...
42m Dec 06, 2021
42m
S1 Ep108: The Auto Zillionaire Who Escaped Japan In A Box
Carlos Ghosn. You’ve seen his name in the headlines-- the Nissan CEO who feld Japan in a cargo crate. What events led to that infamous run from the law? Who was Ghosn before his fall from grace? Was he framed by Japanese law enforcement, or is he guilty… or both?! It’s one of the weirdest, most compelling crime stories in car history-- today on Past Gas. More about Show: Follow James on IG a...
46m Nov 29, 2021
46m
S1 Ep107: How Kimi Raikkonen Became F1's Most Memeable Star
Today, on Past Gas, the epic and long-as-hell career of the Flying Finn, Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi Raikkonen is one of the most beloved Formula One drivers, a celebrated “Iceman” with an open hatred for doing interviews and one of the most meme-able personalities in the paddock. What makes him tick, and why has he stuck it out in Formula One for so long, considering that he’s on record saying that d...
52m Nov 22, 2021
52m
106: Lee Iacocca Was Detroit's Most Powerful Man
Today on Past Gas-- was Lee Iacocca Detroit’s Most Powerful Man? He led not one, but TWO of Motor City’s biggest companies. Without him, would we even have the Mustang? Or the Jeep? Or the… Chrysler Minivan? And how serious was his feud with the Fords? Iacocca’s rag to riches story is an inspiration to car fans and a lesson on how to succeed in whatever you want to accomplish in life. More abo...
46m Nov 15, 2021
46m
S1 Ep105: How Hot Wheels Torched Matchbox
There are many rivals in cars, but few are firier (and tinier) than the battle between Hot Wheels and Matchbox. At one point, the two companies were in all out war for the coveted toy car market. Who were the players? How did Hot Wheels end up being the best-selling toy EVER? Today on Past Gas, we’re laying down some flimsy plastic track to explain exactly how Hot Wheels zipped past Matchbox. ...
49m Nov 08, 2021
49m
S1 Ep104: How Detroit Muscle Flexed on the World
Today on Past Gas: Where did the idea of the muscle car come from, and what even is a muscle car? How did drivers go from tiny flathead V8s to fire snorting 454s in only a few short decades? And who holds the title for the first true muscle car? We’re hitting the gym, doing some auto-body-building, and getting swole for an all muscle edition of the podcast. More about Show: Follow James on I...
51m Nov 01, 2021
51m
S1 Ep103: Bond’s Future is Uncertain, But His Past is Aston Martin
James Bond is an iconic character because of his charm, spy skills, style and… his cars. Bond has driven his share of Subarus and Toyotas. But the ultimate Bond car, the go-to for any British spy worth his salt is the Aston Martin. What started this partnership? How did the Bond franchise affect the business dealings of Aston Martin? And how did Aston Martin affect the Bond Franchise? And why w...
56m Oct 25, 2021
56m
S1 Ep102: Dodge vs. Ford Was A Toxic Feud
Hamilton and Burr. Hatfield and McCoy. Biggie and Tupac. The Dodge Brothers and… Henry Ford? There are many great feuds that define American history, but few know about the legal battle between two automotive giants that forever changed the industry. Why did Henry Ford hate the Dodge brothers so much? How did their rivalry reinforce corporate corporatism as we know it? All that and more on toda...
39m Oct 18, 2021
39m
S1 Ep101: How These Electric Vehicles Sparked The Tesla
What kind of bonkers science took Electric Vehicles from quirky novelty to racetrack hero? How did the internal combustion motor not only kill the electric car, but also make it absolutely amazing? What is the true origin of the electric car, and what does it have to do with a modern electric car that recently broke the world record for drifting? Turn on, tune in, and plug in… it’s an are-we-pa...
53m Oct 11, 2021
53m
S1 Ep100: NASCAR’s Eurotrip - ’Merica At Le Mans
Today on Past Gas,we got the story of some good ol’ American boys taking a wild 1970s Eurotrip. How did the 1970s Oil Embargo lead to a couple of Americans bringing big block muscle cars to Le Mans? How did Ferrari rage quitting Le Mans in 1973 lead to NASCAR racing in France? Just how well did the big block bruisers do against the tiny Le Mans cars? We’re bringing oval power to the eiffel towe...
43m Oct 04, 2021
43m
S1 Ep99: How Did A 9,000 Mile Road Trip Forge A Revolutionary?
You’ve probably been on a road trip that changed your life. But have you been on a road trip that changed the WORLD? How about 9,000 Miles on a Norton bike, through the treacherous terrain of South America? Today on Past Gas: how did an epic road trip create the mononymous revolutionary we know simply as “Che”? Leper colonies, love affairs, and dog diarrhea all tell the story of how a boy turne...
46m Sep 27, 2021
46m
S1 Ep98: This Was NASCAR's Greatest Rivalry
Rivalries are what make racing riveting. Mopar vs. Ford, North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Puralator vs. STP … and today, Richard Petty versus David Perason. Why did they wind up in head to head battles almost every week? How did their rivalry push NASCAR to the limits and save the sport from suffering the same fate as the auto industry during the 70s? All that and more on today’s Past Gas! M...
40m Sep 20, 2021
40m
S1 Ep97: Mazda's Abandoned Luxury Brand
Have you ever heard of Amati? In the late ’80s, Mazda took a big swing and tried to create a luxury car brand. They were emboldened by the success of the Miata. But somehow, Amati never happened, and almost 400 million dollars were wasted in the process. Today on Past Gas: how did Amati become a ghost badge haunting Mazda’s dreams? Why does Mazda refuse to discuss the failed brand? How did Mazd...
47m Sep 13, 2021
47m
S1 Ep96: Six of the Greatest Cheaters in History
A murderous Grand Prix motorcycle racer… An ex-con turned racing manager who ordered one driver to throw a race so his other driver could… a boundary-breaking rally racer who miraculously emerged from the West African jungle with a car that ran like new… What do all these people have in common? They’re CHEATERS! Specifically, some of the most dirty, rotten, dishonest, incredibly creative, downr...
42m Sep 06, 2021
42m
S1 Ep95: Michael Schumacher Could Be F1's GOAT
Michael Schumacher? Despite the reverence his name invokes, Schumacher is not without his own set of controversies. Today, on Past Gas: is Michael Schumacher, known for his perfectionism and intimidating persona, the Greatest of All Time?  More about Show: Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey (https://www.instagram.com/jamespumphrey/?hl=en) . Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsyk...
43m Aug 30, 2021
43m
S1 Ep94: The SuperCar’s Incredible Origin Story
Today on Past Gas, the gritty origin story of supercars. Supercars and hypercars are now a permanent fixture in the automotive landscape, but it wasn’t always that way. First, a bunch of renegade designers and engineers actually had to be crazy enough to invent them. How did Ferrari and Lamborghini’s rivalry lead to some of the greatest car designs ever? And how did Americans start competing wi...
47m Aug 23, 2021
47m
S1 Ep93: Smokey Yunick: The CHEATING Mechanic Who Became A BILLIONAIRE (REPLAY)
Catch our episode of Smokey Yunick yet again, on this exclusive episode revisit (with special Hi Low catch up with Nolan and Joe!) It’s time for the story of NASCAR’s greatest cheater, Smokey Yunick! From humble beginnings building a tractor as a child, fighting in WWII, to operating a dubious smuggling operation, Smokey might be the most interesting man in history! This guy lived five lives be...
55m Aug 16, 2021
55m
S1 Ep92: How this Playboy Smuggler became Racing’s Greatest CHEATER (REPLAY)
Catch our episode of Smokey Yunick yet again, on this exclusive episode revisit (with special Hi Low catch up with Nolan and Joe!) It’s time for the story of NASCAR’s greatest cheater, Smokey Yunick! From humble beginnings building a tractor as a child, fighting in WWII, to operating a dubious smuggling operation, Smokey might be the most interesting man in history! This guy lived five lives be...
56m Aug 09, 2021
56m
S1 Ep91: F1's Most Spectacular Single-Season Flops
Is it better to burn out or fade away? Today on Past Gas, we bring you seven stories about one-season Formula One teams that managed to do both, from Andrea Moda’s wild antics on and off the track, to MasterCard Lola’s short attention span and even shorter stack of bills. Which ill-fated team was the worst? The most promising? The most ill-equipped? Whether you’re a rabid F1 fan or new to the s...
55m Aug 02, 2021
55m
S1 Ep90: Why the Mid-Engine Corvette Took 60 Years to Make
Just a couple years ago, the world finally got its first Mid-Engine Corvette. Today on Past Gas, the epic, decades-long story of how we finally reached that point. It’s a story that starts with hiding out from the Nazis in a French brothel, and only gets wilder from there. What were the incredible experimental cars that Chevy scrapped, how did last minute business blunders hold the project back...
57m Jul 26, 2021
57m
S1 Ep89: The Green Book: Traveling in the Jim Crow Era
Today on Past Gas-- what’s the story behind the “Green Book”? For black Americans, traveling by car has historically been an entirely different experience with its own set of challenges and dangers. How did African American trailblazers create their own car culture, compete with Henry Ford, and use cars to tear down barriers? More about Show: Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey (h...
45m Jul 19, 2021
45m
S1 Ep88: Saddam Hussein Burnt His Son’s Priceless Car Collection
You know Saddam Hussein as the former tyrant of Iraq. But did you know that Saddam and his sons owned one of the most valuable car collections in the Middle East? And that one time, Saddam lit a bunch of the cars on fire, just to prove a point? Today on Past Gas: What happened that made Saddam so angry he burned millions of dollars worth of exotic supercars to the ground? What kind of priceless...
55m Jul 12, 2021
55m
S1 Ep87: The Scammer Who Sold America On A Three-Wheeled Car
Today on Past Gas, we’re telling you the wild and true story of the Dale -- a three-wheeled car embroiled in a wild controversy. The Dale was primed to alter the auto industry forever, so why didn’t it? What did Liz Carmichael do that had her on the run for decades? What’s the story of a car so crazy it reinvented not just one wheel-- but three?! Slap on your bell-bottoms and impeach Nixon cuz ...
50m Jul 05, 2021
50m
S1 Ep86: How Outlaws Invented Car Modding and Became Racing Stars
Today on Past Gas, how a band of outlaws helped bring stock cars to the masses. How did rum runners and bootleggers start modding their cars to outrun the cops? What’s the link between these backwoods speed freaks and modern day NASCAR? It’s a wild story you’re gonna have to hear to believe-- from high speed chases to deadly shootouts. More about Show: Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamesp...
52m Jun 28, 2021
52m
S1 Ep85: Why The ’80s Was SuperCars Craziest Decade
Today on Past Gas-- How did the race to breaking 200mph in a production car set the tone for a decade? How did cars like the gorgeous Lamborghini Countach, the Ferrari Testarossa, and the beastly RUF Yellowbird become potent symbols for an unhinged ten years of excess? Pack the trunk with coke, blast some Guns N Roses, throw on the Oakleys… I pity the fool who isn’t ready for an all ’80s, all s...
55m Jun 21, 2021
55m
S1 Ep84: How The Pickup Truck Became America's Most Popular Vehicle
What’s more American than baseball and apple pie? How about pickup trucks? Today, we’re talking about the history of pickups, from horseless wagons to the Cybertruck. Trucks that are counterculture cool, blazingly fast, and ultra weird. So Git’r’done, and giddy-on-up. This is a Past Gas Crew Cab, pickup truck podcast deluxe! Thanks to our sponsors: Go to blackvue.com/gas and use the promo cod...
48m Jun 14, 2021
48m
S1 Ep83: F1's Greatest Rivalries: Hamilton vs Alonso
Today on Past Gas, one of the greatest rivalries in modern Formula One-- Lewis Hamilton versus Fernando Alonso. What were the origins of the rivalry, and how did it lead to one of the most awkward peach-eating incidents of all time? How did Lewis, as a rookie, get under the champion’s skin so easily? How did a pit stop threaten to destroy McLaren’s relationship with Alonso? How did the rivalry ...
51m Jun 07, 2021
51m