Past Gas
Donut Media
Updated 4 days agoDonut's Nolan Sykes and Joe Weber walk you through incredible stories behind your favorite cars and manufacturers. Episodes include underground Japanese racing clubs, bitter racing rivalries, and how some of your favorite classic cars came to be. Listen and find out why Past Gas is the #1 automotive podcast on Apple.
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Episodes (345)
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, the dark origins of Mercedes’ and Audi’s racing programs. How did these teams get started? What was their link to the Nazis? And why were some of the drivers not even Germans? As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at betterhelp.com/pastgas! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at betterhelp.com/pastgas! Hawthorne’s quiz TODAY and get started on your personalized self-care routine by going to Hawthorne.CO and use promo code gas to get 10% off your first purchase! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 involved? How did the workers get GM to bend? And how did one strike change the course of automotive history? You gotta listen to James, Nolan, and Joe to find out. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at betterhelp.com/pastgas! Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 story of Brawn GP, a single-season F1 team that never should have existed in the first place. Get ONE MILLION bonus chips when you download the WSOP app using promo code WSOPGAS! For a limited time, buy any 3-month Mint Mobile plan and get 3 more months FREE by going to MINTMOBILE.com/GAS! Take Hawthorne’s quiz TODAY and get started on your personalized self-care routine by going to Hawthorne.CO and use promo code gas to get 10% off your first purchase! Get 20% Off and Free Shipping at Manscaped.com with code GAS20. Be the ballsiest gift-giver this year with MANSCAPED™. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at betterhelp.com/pastgas! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 James, Nolan, and Joe talk PALACE finds… it’s the Sultan of Brunei and his massive hoard of cars. Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The History of Racing Games Pt. 3: 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 what are the specific games-- from the arcade to artificial intelligence-- that blazed that trail? Join James, Nolan, and Joe as they answer those questions and more, today on Past Gas! Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GAS20 at Manscaped.com. Get special offers for the holidays, going on right now by visiting Hawthorne.CO! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The History of Racing Games Pt. 2: 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 what are the specific games-- from the arcade to artificial intelligence-- that blazed that trail? Join James, Nolan, and Joe as they answer those questions and more, today on Past Gas! Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Get special offers for the holidays, going on right now by visiting Hawthorne.CO! Get 20% off your first order when you use promo code GAS at TRYCALIPER.COM/GAS! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The History of Racing Games Pt. 1: 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 what are the specific games-- from the arcade to artificial intelligence-- that blazed that trail? Join James, Nolan, and Joe as they answer those questions and more, today on Past Gas! To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just 30 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/gas! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 of the above. Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 episode with more twists and turns than a dirt road up the Rocky Mountains! Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GAS20 at Manscaped.com! Take Hawthorne’s quiz TODAY and get started on your personalized self-care routine by going to Hawthorne.CO and use promo code gas to get 10% off your first purchase! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 edition of Past Gas. Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. To get your new unlimited wireless plan for just 30 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MINTMOBILE.com/GAS Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code GAS20 at Manscaped.com Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 your new unlimited wireless plan for just 30 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/GAS! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 Mickey Thompson’s murder-- who did it, and why?-- in a case that to this day brings up as many questions as answers. Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Get 20% off your first order when you use promo code GAS at TryCaliper.com/Gas! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 fastest cars, craziest accomplishments, and much more. Search for Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here is a link to the episode. Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support! Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 lows of her unique career, and how she continues to impact the WRC to this day. Valvoline is proven to maximize engine life by 40% with their Advanced Full Synthetic and new Full Synthetic High Mileage oils. Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code GAS20 at Manscaped.com Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 episode we promise you'll love Option as much as we do. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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://Surfshark.deals/pastgas and enter promo code PASTGAS for 85% off and 3 extra months for free! Use the code GAS and Mybookie will double your first deposit at https://bit.ly/MB_ GAS Search for Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here is a link to the episode. Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 Story anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here is a link to the episode. Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support! Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.deals/pastgas and enter promo code PASTGAS for 85% off and 3 extra months for free!” Use the code "GAS" and MyBookie will double your first deposit at https://bit.ly/MB_ GAS Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 before his arrest, we'll attempt to unravel this bizarre mystery. Many thanks to Sean Morris! If you're looking for a completely legal import don't go any further than Top Rank International Vehicle Importers https://www.importavehicle.com/vehicles Search for Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here is a link to the episode. Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support! Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.deals/pastgas and enter promo code PASTGAS for 85% off and 3 extra months for free!” Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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. Many thanks to Bring Back Bronco for their support! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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, it also takes away in tragedy. But despite the heartache the Dunlop family keeps racing…why? Well we’re gonna find out. Hear the most bizarre stories about how technology is shaping culture on Wild Wild Tech: https://bit.ly/WildWildTech Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.deals/pastgas and enter promo code PASTGAS for 85% off and 3 extra months for free! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 crazier part two! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 twelve seconds behind the top car. Stay tuned to find out the full story of this legendary engine on this week's episode of Past Gas! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 mother’s backyard, inventing a three wheeled car called “the Devil Beetle”, and getting some help from colleagues who may or may not have been adorable animated forest creatures. Part 1 of 2. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices