Past Gas

It’s no secret that the global auto industry was turned on its head during World War II. From Subaru to Chrysler, nearly every major car company stopped in their tracks to help their respective nations during the horrifying conflict. But which companies were the biggest players? What instruments of war did these industrial bohemothes create? And when the dust settled, how did these automakers reco...

Catch our episode of the Sultan of Brunei yet again, on this exclusive episode revisit (with a quick message from Joe!) 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...

Australian motorsport legend Peter Brock spent years driving for Holden, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors. But when he became a little too interested in New Age theory in the late 1980s, he not only destroyed his longtime business partnership with Australia’s largest automaker, but nearly killed his illustrious career in motorsports. How did Peter Brock, a true wrencher, come to embrace...

Ahhhh, the glorious open road. Cruisin’ USA. In America, the road trip is a rite of passage, a tradition passed down from generation to generation, and it wouldn’t be possible without the American Interstate Highway system, one of the greatest public works projects ever executed in this country. How long did such a behemoth task take to complete? How many roads were constructed? Who paid for it? H...

Before 2020, Suzuki hadn’t taken home a MotoGP championship in two decades. But then one young Mallorcan rider turned it all around… for a single season. Today on Past Gas – How did Suzuki switch from building looms to crafting some of the best motorcycles on the planet? Why did they pull their cars from the US market? And are they getting out of racing, for good? More about Show: Follow Nolan on...

Parnelli Jones is a living legend with the literal track record to prove it. But how did Parnelli achieve that kind of status? What impact did he have on the world of racing, including the cars themselves? And what kind of legacy does the Parnelli Jones name carry, on and off the track? Today on Past Gas, we talk about the unstoppable Parnelli Jones. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter...

Professional racecar driver Juan Manuel Fangio was eager to meet up with his friends and soak up the beautiful February evening in downtown Havana. After winning his fourth consecutive Formula One Drivers’ Championship, Fangio had been invited to Cuba by the president himself. But Fidel Castro’s comrades from the 26th of July movement had other plans. How did Juan Manuel Fangio go from his modest...

At hour 23 of the 24h of Le Mans, Dick Barbour Racing was in the lead. But there was a problem - something was wrong with the left front wheel. As driver Rolf Stommelen eased the Porsche into the pits, his teammate, Paul Newman, scampered out with the crew to -– wait what ? Paul Newman? Butch Cassidy Paul Newman? He was a driver at Le Mans? How the heck did a pretty-boy actor manage to gain the re...

Today on Past Gas is the insidious story of how GM scientists developed a type of gasoline that caused insanity, sickness, and maybe even murder . This story is so devious that it might feel like a cheap dime store novel, but everything we’re going to tell you is true. Why was lead added to fuel in the first place? Who was the scientist behind it? How did the American government let this happen? A...

It’s 1903, and an out-of-work doctor, Horatio Nelson Jackson, is fiercely defending the world’s most exciting invention – the automobile – against a group of men who are POSITIVE that the car was just a fad. Jackson was so sure of himself that he bet $50 that he could take a car from San Francisco to New York City… a feat that had never been done before. Yes, he was going to embark on a road trip...

Frank Williams is a legendary figure in the world of Formula One racing. But how did Frank go from being too broke for a room in a “motorsports frat house” to building one of the most enduring teams in Formula One history? When was the moment that finally turned Frank’s luck around? And how, after a life-altering accident, did Frank Williams keep going? Today on Past Gas, the story of the legendar...

Tony Stewart was about to run his first Indy 500. It should have been the best day of his life.. but he was the only star who showed up. That fateful day is now known in racing lore as part of “The Split.” But how did open-wheel racing get to that point? What exactly is the difference between CART and IndyCar and Champ Car and all the other names we call this sport? And why does it always seem to...

Jeremy Clarkson is one of the world’s most famous authorities on cars. As Top Gear ’s most notorious host, Clarkson has been a major part of car culture since he first started hosting the show in 1988. But to many outside of the car community, he’s despised for his offensive and controversial opinions. How did it come to this? Why is Jeremy Clarkson so revered by car enthusiasts, yet reviled by al...

Since 2000, Audi has won the 24h of Le Mans a whopping 13 times. And three of those wins were under the watchful eye and talents of lead engineer, Leena Gade. How did a daughter of Indian immigrants become an engineer for a world renowned racing team? What other women paved the way for her groundbreaking victory? And what effect did her successes have on the future of women in motorsport? Today on...

When Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to reach 300 mph, his astonishing feat grasped the world’s attention. And what was once a secret was then widely known – the Bonneville Salt Flats were the fastest place on Earth. How were the salt flats formed to begin with? Why are they so amazing for speed trials? And are they impervious to the effects of climate change? Today on Past Gas, the h...

Sir Jackie Stewart is one of F1's most legendary drivers. But right before the Flying Scot was to begin his 100th career Formula One start... he retired. Why did he stop at #99? And how did he become even MORE influential in motorsport after his retirement? Today on Past Gas, the story of the unforgettable Sir Jackie Stewart. More about Show:  Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey .   Fol...

Ah, the “family car.” We each remember our treasured childhood vehicle differently, for it contained multitudes: road trips, melted gummy bears, questionable air conditioning... But what does the term “family car” mean to the auto industry? The family segment has had to evolve and change with the times perhaps more than any other type of car. Today on Past Gas: the societal changes that drove inno...

Alex Zanardi is a champion, a survivor, and a legend. From his father’s garage, to Formula One, to spinning the first celebratory donut, to the Paralympic Games, this fearless Italian has been unstoppable. If there weren't so many people who witnessed his incredible journey in motorsport, you'd think it was scripted. Today, we're taking a deep dive into one of the most mind-blowingly inspirational...

Danica Patrick was one tough cookie, a spitfire, and all those other lightly patronizing names you might call a strong woman in a male-dominated sport. She’s also a self-made mogul, icon, and champion… all achieved before the age of 40. How did she get her start? How many records did she actually break? And how did she become one of the most notorious figures in racing, despite never winning a cha...

There’s probably thirty people on Earth who have never heard the name Mario Andretti. And that’s because Mario Andretti is racing royalty. Today on Past Gas-the story of "Driver of the Century" Mario Andretti. How would Andretti’s childhood living in a WWII refugee camp spark his racing career? What impact did Andretti have on the future of race cars? What led to the Andretti family’s racing dynas...

Randy Lanier was one of the most exciting race car drivers of the 80’s-- but he also had a secret life as a drug smuggler. How did these two pursuits intertwine in the psyche of an adrenaline junkie? Was Randy a better smuggler, or a driver? And just how did a young guy from Virginia turn into a drug kingpin? All this and more on today's episode of Past Gas… More about Show:  Follow James on IG a...

Today on Past Gas, the story of the motorcycle racer turned spy Ernst Degner-- as well as that of a Nazi engineer named Walter Kaaden. Why was Degner leaving East Germany at the height of his fame? How was the Japanese company Suzuki embroiled in his defection? And what secrets did Degner have stuffed in a briefcase that he was carrying with him on that Autumn day in communist Germany? Degner and...

TODAY ON PAST GAS: The 2008 crash nearly killed Detroit. How did Ford survive not one but two massive financial calamities within a span of five years? Could Ford transition from its history of larger than life, charismatic leaders, to someone with a steadier hand? There’s arguably an alternate reality where Ford-- and its American competitors-- completely folded just over a decade ago. Is a guy y...

The list of all-time worst cars wouldn’t be complete without the infamous… Yugo. Yes, it was objectively a bad car, but that’s not the whole story. Today on Past Gas, what’s the real story behind what’s perhaps the most notorious car flop of all time? Is this a story about failure.. Or something else entirely? Could there be something redeemable about a 45-horsepower jalopy built in the backwoods...

Today on Past Gas… how did one man break three world speed records, win almost half of his 529 races, and dominate the Nurburgring 1000 three years in a row? How did this household name give away his only shot at winning an F1 Championship Title? Who was this British driver… the king whom racing never crowned? Today on Past Gas, one of the greatest F1 drivers to NOT be the champ… Stirling Moss. Mo...