Past Gas

It’s winter time so we thought we would talk about the coldest place on earth: Antarctica. Why the heck did people want to go down there? And how did they get around? Nolan, Joe, and Jeremiah will find out. From the first antarctic explorers who traveled on foot to a wingless plane with skis, this is a nutty episode. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nol...

With the resounding success of the Nissan R32 GTR, it was time to design a follow up. Lucky for Nissan, the R32 was just the beginning. In this episode, James, Nolan and Joe discuss the underrated R33 and why it deserves more love, the Legendary R34 and all its special editions, and the R35, the car responsible in part for the birth of car Youtube. Nolan also blows his nose. Follow James on IG and...

The Nissan GTR is by far, one of Japan’s most legendary automobiles. It’s a nameplate born from Motorsport and proven on the street. But where did it come from? Join James, Nolan and Joe as they explore the origins of the GTR name. From the Prince R380 race car, to the Ken Meri, to the almighty R32. It’s time for the rise of Godzilla. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on I...

Henry Ford’s crew of wayward utopia builders have landed in the Amazon. Now all they had to do was build a city...from scratch. Join Nolan and James as they explore what went wrong at Fordlandia. From riots, to starvation, to more riots. It all goes wrong! Isn’t that fun?!? Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia , and subs...

In the early 1900s, Henry Ford devised a plan: buy a swath of Amazonian rainforest, build the ultimate utopia, and grow some rubber. Unfortunately, that would be a lot easier said than done. Join James and Nolan as they recount the wild and ill-fated story of Fordlandia. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Follow Donut @donutmedia , and subscri...

We conclude our two part series on the PT Cruiser with an exhaustive list of things people did to make Chrysler’s light truck cool. Everything from Brian Setzer SEMA builds, a Viper V10 engine swap,  to Chrysler’s own Turbocharged Cruiser GT. If you though the PT was cool in Part 1, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsyke...

The PT Cruiser is America’s ubiquitously hated, retro styled, uber-utilitarian cars that also sold millions of units. But does it deserve the hate? Join Nolan, and special guest hosts Joe and Jeremiah, as they discuss the PT Cruiser’s surprisingly advanced development. With roots in the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler, you might change your mind about this car after you hear this episode! Follow...

Get ready to hear about one of America’s most prolific drug kingpins of the 1980's, Randy Lanier. He was one of the most promising rookie drivers and soon became one of the largest drug traffickers in U.S. history, smuggling over 600,000 pounds of marijuana into the country. This guy was the Walter White of racing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our finale of Smokey Yunick, we’re diving into his illustrious cheating career. From hiding fuel lines inside his cars, building a 7/8 scale race car, to eventually becoming an Oil AND Gold Baron. Smokey is a bonafide legend. 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!  L...

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 before he ever stepped foot on a racetrack. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes Fo...

In the final installment of the series, James and Nolan explore more of the lore of the infamous underground Japanese race team, The Mid Night Club. Plus, James and Nolan pass on a message from an actual member of Mid Night. 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...

In part one of a two-part series, 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, officially speaking. 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! ...

In the final installment of a four part series, James and Nolan wrap up what became of the feud between two car giants. After two failed attempts and millions of dollars spent, will the GT40 team finally take victory in France? They’re about to find out. Strap in because this is a dense one! We’re talking Holman Moody, Ralph Nader, the Daytona 24 hours, and one of the most iconic race finishes eve...

In part three of a four part series, James and Nolan discuss how, to save face and defeat Ferrari, Ford enlists the help of a man who had done it before, Carroll Shelby. This episode covers Carroll’s life before racing, his failed business ventures including chicken farming, and the Creation of Shelby American in Venice, CA. Carroll Shelby might be  the coolest man to ever live. Follow James on IG...

On part two of a four part series, James and Nolan explore how Motor Company president Henry Ford II had his sights set on one thing: beating the Chevrolet Corvette. So what happens when you try to buy a small Italian sportswear firm to do that? Hank will see for himself. From the fumbled deal between Ford and Ferrari to Ford’s first attempt at winning Le Mans, today’s episode is all about REVENGE...

In the first part of a four part series, hosts James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes from Donut Media start off their first episode with a bang, the unbelievable feud between Ford and Ferrari in the early 20th century. This legendary rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at Le Mans begins with the story of perhaps the most influential people in car history: Enzo Ferrari . From his early life growing up in his...

Donut Media brings you some of the craziest stories from all of automotive history in their new podcast "Past Gas!". Hosts James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes walk you through incredible stories behind your favorite cars and manufacturers, like underground Japanese racing clubs, bitter racing rivalries and how some of your favorite classic cars came to be. Remember, it's about cars, not about farts. Le...