Past Gas

S2 Ep13: The Golden Era of JDM: Our Favorite Cars

From the early days of innovation after WWII to the brand new supercars coming out of Japan, "The Golden Era" of the Japanese Car Industry spans many generations and is more far reaching than anyone realizes. In this final installment of Season 2 of Past Gas, Nolan Sykes and Joe Weber recap their favorite parts and unpack what didn't make it to the episodes. This episode is brought to you by Shopify! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/Gas

S2E13 Jun 23, 2026 64 min 100 annotations

S2 Ep12: The Golden Era of JDM: Why Gen Z Grew Up Without Cars

From legendary 90s JDM icons skyrocketing into the millions, to corporate scandals, economic crashes, and a generation forced to trade the steering wheel for a smartphone, this is the true story of how we lost the greatest automotive era in history, and why the "car dream" is now completely out of reach for most of us.The golden era of Japanese sports cars is officially dead... or is it?

S2E12 Jun 16, 2026 53 min 113 annotations

S2 Ep11: The Golden Era of JDM: The Last Great JDM Halo Cars

By the late 2000s, shrinking markets, tightening emissions, and a younger generation losing interest in vehicles signaled the end of the legendary JDM era. But a few rebellious engineers refused to go quietly, choosing instead to make their last cars arguably their greatest.In this second-to-last episode of Past Gas: The Golden Era of JDM, we explore the dramatic conclusion of Japan's greatest automotive era. Discover how Nissan built the R35 GT-R from scratch to successfully crush Porsche at the Nurburgring, why Toyota intentionally lost money on every screaming V10 LFA they built to educate their next generation of engineers, the heartbreaking cancellation of Honda's highly anticipated V10 NSX, and how Mazda kept the pure driving spirit alive despite the death of the rotary engine. This episode is brought to you by Lumi Gummies! Go to https://www.LumiGummies.com and use code PASTGAS for 30% off your order!

S2E11 Jun 09, 2026 53 min 101 annotations

S2 Ep10: The Golden Era of JDM: The Secrets That Made Tokyo Drift Successful

In this episode, we explore the unbelievable evolution of drift culture. From Keiichi Tsuchiya—the legendary "Drift King"—cutting his teeth by sliding through dark corners, to the creation of the D1 Grand Prix and the birth of Formula Drift, drifting had to invent its own competitive rules and scoring systems from scratch. Join us as we dive into how this underground Japanese phenomenon captured the world's attention, conquered the American car scene, and eventually demanded absolute authenticity on the set of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.Thanks to Shopify for sponsoring this episode! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/Gas

S2E10 Jun 02, 2026 37 min 72 annotations

S2 Ep9: The Golden Era of JDM: The Forbidden Japanese Cars The US Demanded

When The Fast and the Furious hit theaters in 2001, it lifted Japanese car culture out of the mountain passes and dropped it straight into the American mainstream.In this episode of Past Gas, we explore how Japan responded to the world's newfound obsession with its vehicles. We break down Daijiro Inada's terrifying 200 mph rollover crash in the Nevada desert, the intense enthusiast demand that finally forced legendary cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution stateside, and the historic end to Japan's 15-year 276-horsepower "gentlemen's agreement". Finally, discover how iconic aftermarket brands like GReddy and HKS engineered specifically for the West and turned American ambition into a global tuning empire.Thanks to QUO for sponsoring this episode! Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://www.Quo.com/PastGas

S2E9 May 26, 2026 33 min 70 annotations

S2 Ep8: TEMP TITLE

TEMP DESCRIPTIONThis episode is brought to you by Rocket Money! Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://www.RocketMoney.com/PastGasAlso thanks to Lumi Gummies for sponsoring this podcast! Go to https://www.LumiGummies.com and use code PASTGAS for 30% off your order.This podcast is also sponsored by BlueChew! Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code PASTGAS!And also thanks to Shopify for sponsoring this episode!

S2E8 May 19, 2026 42 min 60 annotations

S2 Ep7: Why The Drift King Chose The AE86 for Initial D

Initial D exploded beyond the confines of car culture to a global phenomenon and broke a lot of rules along the way. In the seventh installment of our 12-part series, we explore the origins of the Initial D series, how drifting went global, and how Keiichi Tsuchiya, The Drift King himself, helped every step of the way.

S2E7 May 12, 2026 45 min 91 annotations

S2 Ep6: How Japan Embarrassed the Racing World

For decades, the world saw Japanese cars as just efficient, economical daily commuters. Then the 1990s hit, and Japan unleashed a lineup of obsessively engineered racing monsters that completely stunned the established European and American giants. Backed by the limitless budgets of the nation's economic "bubble era," Japanese engineers were given the ultimate green light to overbuild their machines without worrying about the cost.From Subaru and Mitsubishi conquering unforgiving rally dirt, to Mazda’s unbreakable rotary engine surviving Le Mans, and Nissan’s R32 "Godzilla" destroying the Australian touring circuit—Japan didn't just show up to compete. They took over.Discover how these manufacturers stopped being seen as the "optimistic little brother," rewrote the racing rulebooks, and became the ultimate global benchmark.This episode is brought to you by QUO. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://www.Quo.com/PastGasThis episode is also brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/GasAlso thanks to BlueChew for sponsoring this podcast. Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code PASTGAS.

S2E6 May 05, 2026 48 min 122 annotations

S2 Ep5: Inside Japan's Exclusive Outlaw Race Club

Join us in the fifth installment of Past Gas: The Golden Era of JDM, as we dive into the history of one of Japan's most elusive car clubs, The Mid Night Club. What later became a popular video game started as a way for Japan's elite car tuners, enthusiasts and even Automotive Executives to test and tune their cars... on public roads.Thanks to Warby Parker for sponsoring this episode! Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs athttps://www.WarbyParker.com/PastGas — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #adThis episode is also brought to you by Chubbies! Chubbies is here to keep you comfy and looking good year-round. Get 20% off with code GAS at https://www.chubbiesshorts.com/gas #chubbiespod #adAnd also thanks to Rula for sponsoring this podcast! Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/pastgas #rulapod #ad

S2E5 Apr 28, 2026 53 min 118 annotations

S2 Ep4: The Golden Era of JDM: Outlaw Zines Made Japan's Culture Mainstream

Before the internet, Japan's underground car culture was built on independent, cheaply printed zines, word-of-mouth networks, and late-night highway runs. In this episode of Past Gas, we explore how car magazines transformed Japanese tuning from a hidden, unauthorized subculture into an absolute global phenomenon.We dive into the story of visionary editor Daijiro Inada and his revolutionary publication, Option Magazine, which boldly documented illegal street racing and gave rogue tuners a shared voice and platform. From the secretive, elite 250 km/h runs of the legendary Mid Night Club on Tokyo's Wangan to the smoke-filled official top-speed battles at the Yatabe High Speed Loop. This rebellious energy birthed the Tokyo Auto Salon and forced the Japanese government to legitimize the very aftermarket engineering that would soon take over the worldToday's episode is brought to you by BlueChew. Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code PASTGAS.This episode is also brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/Gas And thanks to Rocket Money for sponsoring this episode. Join at https://www.RocketMoney.com/PastGas

S2E4 Apr 21, 2026 44 min 150 annotations

S2 Ep3: The Golden Era of JDM: Honda Hacked The Gas Crisis

This week, we're exploring how Japanese automakers fared during the gas crisis of the early 1970's. What led to them being in the right place at the right time? How did they expand across the globe so seamlessly? And what makes Honda's CVCC engine so revolutionary for the time? All of this and more on this week's episode.

S2E3 Apr 14, 2026 49 min 34 annotations

S2 Ep2: The Golden Era of JDM: Japanese Grand Prix

In this episode of Past Gas, we're diving into the first ever Japanese Gran Prix, and how it shaped motorsport from that day on. How did Japan's cars do against Europe's elite and experienced Formula teams? Which companies competed? And what did they learn from the first Gran Prix that they took into development for road cars? All that and more in this episode!

S2E2 Apr 07, 2026 55 min 33 annotations

S2 Ep1: The Golden Era of JDM: Prologue

In this season of Past Gas, we're exploring the origins of Japan's Golden Era of Cars. How did Japan bounce back from the devastation of WWII? What made their economy so strong? And when did their sports cars become the icons we know today? All will be explained in this 12 part series, stay tuned!

S2E1 Apr 06, 2026 28 min 30 annotations

How Ferrari Survived Ford, Fiat, and Fate

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/3Kj2XLO] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance.Thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/44f5Sgl] to learn more about Dynapro tires!Thank you EveryPlate for sponsoring this episode. Try EveryPlate and get $2.99 per meal on your first box, plus free steak for a month. Go to https://everyplate.com/podcast and use code gassteak to claim your offer.And thank you Underdog Fantasy for sponsoring this podcast. Download the app today and use promo code GAS to score $75 in Bonus Entries when you play your first $5. Must be 18+ (19+ in Alabama & Nebraska; 19+ in Colorado for some games; 21+ in Arizona, Massachusetts, and Virginia) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. See https://assets.underdogfantasy.com/web/PlayandGetTerms_DFS_.html for details. Offer not valid in Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. In New York, call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369)This week, in the season 1 finale of Past Gas, we finish the story of Enzo Ferrari and the era that turned the Prancing Horse into a global obsession: the iconic 250 GT and 250 GTO, the tragedies that haunted Ferrari racing, the moment Ford tried (and failed) to buy Ferrari, and the final thunderclap of Enzo’s reign: the Ferrari F40.Thanks to all of our listeners, we will see you in 2026! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E99 Dec 22, 2025 70 min 48 annotations

Ferrari Borrowed Its Most Famous Symbol

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4mgo1jE] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. Thanks to Indeed for sponsoring this episode. Listeners of this show will get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Go to ⁠https://indeed.com/PASTGAS⁠ right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Also thanks to Aura Frames for sponsoring this episode. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/GAS. Promo Code GAS This week on Past Gas, we’re diving into Ferrari — and the surprising, emotional origin of its most famous symbol. The Prancing Horse didn’t start with Enzo Ferrari, or even with cars at all. In Part 1 of our two-part season finale, we trace the logo’s roots back to a World War I Italian flying ace, and the chain of events that turned a wartime emblem into the most iconic badge in automotive history. From Alfa Romeo and early racing to Enzo Ferrari’s rise as a team manager, we explore how Ferrari built its identity long before it ever built a road car. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E318 Dec 15, 2025 47 min 30 annotations

How Japan’s Fastest Cars Were Built in a Cowshed

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4n4xlrY] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. And thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/4nsAXo6] to learn more about Dynapro tires!This episode is also brought to you by Aura Frames. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/GAS. Promo Code GAS This week on Past Gas, we’re telling the unbelievable story of how HKS went from wrenching in a shed on a dairy farm to building some of the fastest cars Japan has ever seen. From early turbo experiments to the 300-km/h Celica, the outlaw Zero-R, and record-smashing time-attack monsters, this is how a tiny team under Mount Fuji ended up reshaping JDM and motorsport forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E317 Dec 08, 2025 51 min 48 annotations

The Tire Problem That Created Drifting

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4mVSVPj] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. And thanks to Aura Frames for sponsoring this episode. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/GAS. Promo Code GAS This week on Past Gas, we’re telling the story of Kunimitsu Takahashi — the motorcycle phenom who survived a near-fatal Isle of Man crash and came back to dominate Japanese touring cars in the Skyline GT-R. His aggressive, controlled power-slides, born from the limits of bias-ply tires, helped shape the driving style that inspired Keiichi Tsuchiya and drifting as we know it. From volcanic hillclimbs to Nissan’s “Three Crows” era to delivering Honda a GT2-class win at Le Mans, Takahashi’s career defined multiple eras of motorsport and left a legacy that still echoes across racing and drift culture today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E316 Dec 01, 2025 48 min 39 annotations

What Ever Happened To Pininfarina?

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/463GZoO] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. This week on Past Gas, we’re telling the story of Pininfarina — the small Italian coachbuilder that became the world’s most iconic design house. Before their name appeared on Ferraris and Peugeots, Battista “Pinin” Farina was just a kid in his brother’s shop dreaming bigger than Detroit. From turning down a job offer from Henry Ford to creating the MoMA-worthy Cisitalia 202, Pininfarina quickly rewrote the rules of car design. And after one legendary lunch with Enzo Ferrari, they’d go on to shape nearly every iconic Ferrari for the next six decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E315 Nov 24, 2025 63 min 55 annotations

How a Racing Loophole Made Tom Walkinshaw a Legend

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/3VhqAH3] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. Also thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/3ZWwwYL] to learn more about Dynapro tires! This episode is also sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Past Gas, we’re diving into the unbelievable life of Tom Walkinshaw — the Scottish farmer-turned-racing powerhouse who built one of motorsport’s greatest empires. Before he became the mastermind behind Jaguar’s return to Le Mans and Holden’s dominance at Bathurst, Walkinshaw was just a tough kid from Midlothian hustling his way up the racing ladder. From controversial disqualifications in the British Touring Car Championship to pushing homologation boundaries with Holden, Walkinshaw earned a reputation as the guy who’d do anything to go faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E314 Nov 17, 2025 38 min 33 annotations

The Million-Dollar Porsche That Got Its Maker Killed

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4gmCSHD] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. Also thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/3GjjL3S] to learn more about Dynapro tires! This week on Past Gas: one of the most insane tuner stories ever told. In the ’80s and ’90s, Gemballa turned Porsches into wild, million-dollar supercars for sheikhs, rappers, and rock stars. But behind the gold interiors and Testarossa body kits was founder Uwe Gemballa, a perfectionist whose obsession with luxury led to his disappearance — sparking one of the automotive world’s strangest mysteries. How did a man who built the wildest Porsches on Earth simply vanish? And how is his son rebuilding the brand today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E312 Nov 10, 2025 48 min 49 annotations

The Gas-Station Kid Who Outsmarted Dodge and Became the Mopar King

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/47IpOdG] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. This week, when Dodge said a 383 big-block wouldn’t fit in a Dart, a Chicago car guy proved them wrong — and forced Detroit to copy him. From selling 50 Dodges in a snowstorm to building the first dealer-tuned muscle cars, Mr. Norm turned a local dealership into the birthplace of Mopar performance culture — and changed how Americans bought speed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E311 Nov 03, 2025 40 min 33 annotations

The Crash That Changed Drag Racing Forever

Thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/4ewUjVf] to learn more about Dynapro tires! Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4mcrYFS] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. This week, before it was America’s fastest sport, drag racing was pure anarchy — street duels, homebuilt death traps, and war vets chasing speed wherever they could find it. Wally Parks stepped in to bring order to the chaos, founding the NHRA to make racing safer and more legit. From outlaw origins to organized empire, this is the story of how the NHRA was born, and the crash that changed drag racing forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E310 Oct 27, 2025 58 min 34 annotations

The GM Madman Who Built the Stingray in Secret

Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/3GSyliQ] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. Meet Bill Mitchell, the hard-drinking, womanizing, design genius who shaped General Motors’ golden age. From the Corvette Stingray to the Buick Riviera and Cadillac Eldorado, Mitchell’s fingerprints are on nearly every iconic GM car of the ’50s through ’70s. He defied bans, built secret studios, and literally climbed trees drunk at company parties. It’s the wild story of the man who made American cars beautiful — and himself impossible to ignore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E309 Oct 20, 2025 56 min 43 annotations

The Race So Dangerous They Had to Ban It

Thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/3Tif5OF] to learn more about Dynapro tires! Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4jROVOr] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance. This week, we’re headed to Sicily for the Targa Florio—a road race with 6,000 corners, zero guardrails, and drivers doing triple digits past goat farms. Launched in 1906 by one rich guy flexing his new car, it became a death-defying playground for Ferrari, Bugatti, Maserati, and Porsche—and the reason Porsche named the 911 Targa. This is the wild story of the race so insane, Italy finally said “enough.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E308 Oct 13, 2025 52 min 32 annotations

The Guy Who Took Drag Racing Off the Streets

Get After It! Enter for a Chance to Win a Custom Car Co-Built by Donut and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. All brought to you by NOS Energy. For more details visit: https://bit.ly/3Jb9w2LThanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here [https://bit.ly/4kk8WwW] to check Allstate first and see how much you could save on car insurance.Also thanks to Hankook for sponsoring today's video! Click here [https://bit.ly/44p5YAF] to learn more about Dynapro tires!This week on Past Gas, we’re talking about the man who took drag racing from outlaw chaos to legit sport: Wally Parks. In the ’40s, hot rodders were crashing on city streets and scaring the hell out of cops and civilians. Parks had a crazy idea — make racing safer, organized, and bigger than ever. From Hot Rod Magazine to founding the NHRA, Parks didn’t just save drag racing — he gave it a future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S1E308 Oct 06, 2025 48 min 30 annotations