Past Gas

This week, the guys dive into the amazing story of gamer turned race car driver, Jann Mardenborough. How did he make the leap from bedroom sim-racing to competing, and making podium at Le Mans just a few short years later? A little bit of luck and a lot of real racing talent, that's how. Thanks to our sponsors: Visit Lexus.com/Motorsports to learn more about Lexus Racing and get all of the details...

Join us this week as we follow the origins of one of the most powerful, well-respected hypercar companies to ever exist: Pagani Automobili. It's all because of one man, Horacio Pagani. How did this son of a Baker and Jazz Musician go from living in a small town in Argentina to designing state-of-the-art hypercars in Italy? One word: determination. Thanks to our sponsors: Thanks to Hankook for spon...

Join the guys as they dive deep into the legend of fiery MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi. From his humble beginnings in Southern Italy to the climactic conclusion of his two decades long career, Valentino Rossi couldn't help but make waves in the motorcycle world with his on and off-track antics. Thanks to our sponsors: Visit Lexus.com/Motorsports to learn more about Lexus Racing and get all of th...

Join Nolan, Joe and Bart as they dive into the second part of Alfa Romeo's history. Throughout the 20th century, they've gone through so many different romantic eras. From a harrowed post WWII recovery, to a feature in a Hollywood movie that would boost their prestige, to Alfa's racing prominence in the 70's, the company has certainly seen a lot. Thanks to our sponsors: Go to https://Indeed.com/PA...

This week, the guys do a deep dive into one of the oldest Italian marques still in business. How did they become so dominant in racing? What made their team driver, Enzo Ferrari, so mad at them that he left to start his own business? And how did an American movie starring Dustin Hoffman springboard them back into the zeitgeist? This is the history of Alfa Romeo, Part One. Thanks to our sponsors: T...

From humble beginnings to the high boost, anti-lag skittering turbines we know today, turbochargers have more than 100 years of adding power and making engines more efficient behind them. Join the guys as they revisit the most important turbo eras in history and highlight the most iconic turbocharged cars of those eras. Thanks to our sponsors: Thanks to Allstate for sponsoring today’s episode!  Cl...

This week on Past Gas, it’s the history of International Harvester! How did they start America’s love affair with the SUV? How did they get there from making plows and threshers? And why, after a huge run of success, did they fall off the map? Find out today on Past Gas.  More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes .   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber . Follow Donut @donutm...

This week on Past Gas, it’s the final episode of our series on BMW vs Benz: Group A! How did a 100-year-old automotive cold war suddenly turn hot? How did a new set of rules handed down in 1982 result in some of the greatest cars ever sold showing up at dealerships worldwide? How did evolution after evolution of motors, suspensions, and body panels wind up creating the current car upgrade system i...

Join Nolan, Joe and special guests Jeremiah Burton and Justin Freeman for a very special live event, recorded at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. They dive deep into listener-submitted topics such as Jungle Jim & Pam, Rudolf Diesel and figure out why the heck old VW's smell like crayons. Thanks to our sponsors: Get 20% off your first order now at  https://SHOPDUER.com/PASTGAS Start your free online v...

In the second part of our series on Group A Racing, we take a look at Mercedes’ primary rival - BMW! How did a glorified bicycle launch one of the most long-lived racing programs in history? How did a handful of Mercedes engineers inspire one of the greatest touring cars ever made? How did BMW turn the e30 into a global superpower? Today, in Part Two of the BMW vs Benz in Group A series on today’s...

It’s the first part of our series on Group A Racing! We’re diving into how it got started and how it led to one of the most intense rivalries in racing history. How did Mercedes executives turning their back on factory racing sponsorships lead directly to one of the biggest Group A rivalries ever? How did the Audi Quattro push Mercedes Benz into Group A racing? How did Mercedes Benz inadvertently...

This week, we’re telling you the wild story about two brothers that were fixtures in both the Indycar and NASCAR circuits but ended up in prison for operating a drug running operation. It's the story of Bill and Don Whittington…How did these unknown brothers from Texas win Le Mans in their first real race? And how did they evade law enforcement for so long? And how did they finally get caught? Fin...

We’re heading back to the early 2000’s to tell you the COMPLETE history of Pimp My Ride! How did it become the top-rated car show on TV? Why did it disappear so quickly after reaching such great heights? And how many of those cars are actually still on the road today? Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed. Go to https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS . Go to https://Shopify.com/gas now to grow...

This week on Past Gas…it’s the history of Hot Rodding!  Hot rod culture might seem tame today, and is probably more associated with baby boomer car shows than rebellious street racers. But the engine building and custom aesthetic work hot rodders did during their heyday not only kickstarted the aftermarket performance and car enthusiast media industries- it also set a blueprint for the countless e...

Junior Johnson's moonshining days were just the start of a remarkable journey that would see him revolutionize the sport of stock car racing. From a stint in jail, to discovering the drafting technique that forever changed how cars raced, to owning a championship-winning team and receiving a presidential pardon, Junior was the true definition of a maverick. But beyond his impressive win record, wh...

Today on Past Gas, What happened to Isuzu?   How could a company that built such a strong foothold in popular culture during the 80’s and 90’s become such a failure in the 2000’s?   And where are they now?   The answers to those questions are as winding as its namesake, Japan’s Isuzu River. This is the rise and fall of Isuzu.    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at...

Brothers Walt and Art Arfons would set and break the Land Speed record three separate times from 1960-1965. They would achieve these records while refusing to set foot on the Salt Flats at the same time nor speaking to one another for years. By 1960, the brothers’ relationship had deteriorated so completely that they would work on their cars in separate garages on the same piece of property they i...

Today on Past Gas: We’re taking a look at the origin of the NASCAR truck series. What makes these big, fast trucks so special? And who were the oddballs who thought to put pickups on a banked oval, anyway? Today on Past Gas, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series! Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed: https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online thera...

On today’s episode of Past Gas, we’re talking about Offenhauser: one of the most legendary engine manufacturers of all time. How did they remain competitive for nearly 50 years? How did they pull off one of the most dominant runs in motorsport history? Tune in, and find out! Thanks to our sponsors: Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas  now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Live it up...

Today on Past Gas: We’re going back to the early 2000’s to give you the full history of Orange County Choppers! How did a gruff steel worker from the Catskills change motorcycles forever? How did he and his son become the biggest thing in reality TV? And why did he nearly lose that son in the process? Thanks to our sponsors: Turn your ordinary water into extraordinary hydration with Liquid I.V. Ge...

When Katsuhiro Ueo got his first taste of drifting, he was told he couldn’t do it. He was too old. But little did the world know that his passion for motorsports and engineering would combine with his immensely tough work ethic to make him a true legend in the sport, and within just a couple of short years. But who is Katsuhiro Ueo? What was the moment that changed his life forever? What makes him...

There are some fascinating stories behind many iconic factory performance cars, their origins rooted in after-hours tinkering by passionate engineers. And then there’s those who love tinkering  after  a car hits the market. Today the guys talk about a brand that’s often overlooked, and has created some truly awesome versions of already-renowned platforms like the Nissan Skyline GTR and Subaru WRX....

Gilles Villeneuve and his family have left a lasting mark on racing and its history. How did the Canadian hot head Gilles walk into Ferrari and immediately earn their respect? What did he do to get a circuit named after him? And how did Gilles’s son Jacques become a legend in his own right? Today on Past Gas, the story of Formula One racer Gilles Villeneuve and his racing dynasty. Thanks to our sp...

In 1967, Yutaka Katayama, or Mr. K, is now President of Nissan North America. He’s just been called to Nissan HQ to select a concept design to replace the aging Fairlady Roadster. But unbeknownst to the other executives on the selection committee, Mr. K has been quietly operating behind the scenes to push his preferred design through. The concept is referred to as codename “Z,” and it isn’t really...

August, 1958. Nissan ad man Yutaka Katayama, known to most as Mr. K, is in Sydney, Australia was leading a two car team of Datsun 210s in the brand’s first official motorsport event. The brand had gotten its start barely 20 years ago, and was now in Australia to build brand recognition for their impending global expansion. It was a huge gamble. And one that would pay off. But how are the histories...