Past Gas

The Carrera Panamericana Is One Of The Most Dangerous Races Ever

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some call it the most dangerous event in Mexican history… and with a mortality rate of five people killed every year, it certainly proved deadly to ...

Monster Trucks Took Project Cars To The Extreme

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Giant vehicles crushing rows upon rows of junker cars in a massive, dirt-filled arena packed to the gills with screaming fans of all ages. Today on Pa...

Jeff Gordon’s Legacy Was Tested By Tragedy...and the Tabloids

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff Gordon’s career thus far was as close to a fairytale as one can get. Before the age of 30 he had won three championships, barely missing out on...

Jeff Gordon Made NASCAR Mainstream

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas… Jeff Gordon! How did a kid who grew up 20 miles from San Francisco take over a rugged sport which sprung from the illicit moonshi...

The Man Behind One of F1's Most Legendary Names

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a mechanic and engineer, Jack Brabham brought ideas to the forefront of automotive construction that would have a lasting effect on the game. And a...

Why 1973 Was The Worst Year for Cars

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

1973 was undeniably the worst year in nearly a century of American cars. Why were Americans so scared of running out of gas they were brawling at the ...

F1 Owes Everything to Adrian Newey’s Car Designs

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Even if you don’t know the name Adrian Newey, you know his accomplishments. Considered to be one of the best engineers, designers and technical dire...

Smokey Nagata Sparked A Tuning Revolution

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Smokey Nagata is most famous-- or infamous-- for driving his gold-painted Toyota Supra 200 miles per hour on a UK public highway. It made him perhaps ...

The Smartest, Funniest and Cringiest Car Ads of All Time

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From “The Ultimate Driving Machine” to “Like A Rock”, iconic auto slogans and images have embedded themselves into our collective psyche, and ...

Tucker 48: Stroke of Genius, or Scam?

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Tucker 48 may be the most innovative, ahead-of-its-time car you’ve never heard of. How did the Tucker Corporation of the 1940s develop one of th...

The Most Exciting 24 Hours In Sports

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Le Mans 24-Hour Race is not just one of the most famous auto races in the world, it’s one of the most famous sporting events-- period. What make...

John Force Took Funny Cars to the Extreme

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

John Force is the king of Funny Cars… but what ARE funny cars? Why are they called “funny cars,” when the sport itself is deadly serious? How di...

These Car Gimmicks Failed Spectacularly

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A big ol’ slab of granite… A convenient keychain murder alarm… A steering wheel shaped like a Pop Tart… These are among the many innovations t...

The Race To Build A 200mph Production Car

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, it’s a sprint AND a marathon– inside the decades-long quest to build a production car that could hit two hundred miles per hour...

RC Cars Are Crazy Fast Now

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remote-control or radio-control racing – RC, as it’s known to fans – isn’t a new phenomenon. Since its invention in 1966, there’s arguably n...

Amazing JDM Barn Finds

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why don’t you see many old cars driving around Japan? Why does it take a massive disaster to stockpile some of the most desirable JDM cars? What is ...

This Was F1's Most Successful Family

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Fittipaldis are arguably the most dominant family dynasty in Formula One history. How did Emerson Fittipaldi open the door for a whole slew of Fit...

Steve McQueen Was The O.G. Car Nerd

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hi everybody I’m Nolan from Past Gas by Donut Media, we’re an automotive history show. Its kind of like hanging out in the garage with your friend...

The Bizarre Battle Over... Seatbelts??

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Driving is dangerous! You may think that safety measures would be a popular and easy win for the automobile industry, but it wasn’t always that way....

Jeeps Aren’t What They Used To Be

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas… Jeep! How did the Jeep teach Europe what Freedom was really about? What does their decades-long progression say about the brand t...

How Soichiro Honda Built A $200 Billion Automotive Powerhouse

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you hear “Honda Motor Company”, what comes to mind? Reliability? Safety and simplicity? A company that sells its products to more than 140 co...

The Ugliest, Weirdest, and Most Expensive Concept Cars of All Time

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, CONCEPT CARS. They’ve always reflected our visions for the automotive future, inspiring and provoking car fans with often impract...

The Auto Zillionaire Who Escaped Japan In A Box

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carlos Ghosn. You’ve seen his name in the headlines-- the Nissan CEO who feld Japan in a cargo crate. What events led to that infamous run from the ...

How Kimi Raikkonen Became F1's Most Memeable Star

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, on Past Gas, the epic and long-as-hell career of the Flying Finn, Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi Raikkonen is one of the most beloved Formula One drivers...

Lee Iacocca Was Detroit's Most Powerful Man

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas-- was Lee Iacocca Detroit’s Most Powerful Man? He led not one, but TWO of Motor City’s biggest companies. Without him, would we ...

How Hot Wheels Torched Matchbox

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are many rivals in cars, but few are firier (and tinier) than the battle between Hot Wheels and Matchbox. At one point, the two companies were i...

How Detroit Muscle Flexed on the World

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas: Where did the idea of the muscle car come from, and what even is a muscle car? How did drivers go from tiny flathead V8s to fire sn...

Bond’s Future is Uncertain, But His Past is Aston Martin

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

James Bond is an iconic character because of his charm, spy skills, style and… his cars. Bond has driven his share of Subarus and Toyotas. But the u...

Dodge vs. Ford Was A Toxic Feud

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hamilton and Burr. Hatfield and McCoy. Biggie and Tupac. The Dodge Brothers and… Henry Ford? There are many great feuds that define American history...

How These Electric Vehicles Sparked The Tesla

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of bonkers science took Electric Vehicles from quirky novelty to racetrack hero? How did the internal combustion motor not only kill the ele...

NASCAR’s Eurotrip - ’Merica At Le Mans

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas,we got the story of some good ol’ American boys taking a wild 1970s Eurotrip. How did the 1970s Oil Embargo lead to a couple of Am...

How Did A 9,000 Mile Road Trip Forge A Revolutionary?

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve probably been on a road trip that changed your life. But have you been on a road trip that changed the WORLD? How about 9,000 Miles on a Nort...

This Was NASCAR's Greatest Rivalry

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rivalries are what make racing riveting. Mopar vs. Ford, North Carolina vs. South Carolina, Puralator vs. STP … and today, Richard Petty versus Davi...

Mazda's Abandoned Luxury Brand

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever heard of Amati? In the late ’80s, Mazda took a big swing and tried to create a luxury car brand. They were emboldened by the success o...

Six of the Greatest Cheaters in History

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A murderous Grand Prix motorcycle racer… An ex-con turned racing manager who ordered one driver to throw a race so his other driver could… a bound...

Michael Schumacher Could Be F1's GOAT (Episode 100!)

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Please enjoy Past Gas’ 100th episode! A special thanks to everyone who has listened to the podcast-- we truly couldn’t make it without you. Who be...

The SuperCar’s Incredible Origin Story

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, the gritty origin story of supercars. Supercars and hypercars are now a permanent fixture in the automotive landscape, but it wasn’...

The CHEATING Mechanic Who Became A BILLIONAIRE (REPLAY)

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Catch our episode of Smokey Yunick yet again, on this exclusive episode revisit (with special Hi Low catch up with Nolan and Joe!) It’s time for th...

How this Playboy Smuggler became Racing’s Greatest CHEATER (REPLAY)

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Catch our episode of Smokey Yunick yet again, on this exclusive episode revisit (with special Hi Low catch up with Nolan and Joe!) It’s time for th...

F1's Most Spectacular Single-Season Flops

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to burn out or fade away? Today on Past Gas, we bring you seven stories about one-season Formula One teams that managed to do both, from ...

Why the Mid-Engine Corvette Took 60 Years to Make

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just a couple years ago, the world finally got its first Mid-Engine Corvette. Today on Past Gas, the epic, decades-long story of how we finally reache...

The Green Book: Traveling in the Jim Crow Era

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas-- what’s the story behind the “Green Book”? For black Americans, traveling by car has historically been an entirely different...

Saddam Hussein Burnt His Son’s Priceless Car Collection

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You know Saddam Hussein as the former tyrant of Iraq. But did you know that Saddam and his sons owned one of the most valuable car collections in the ...

The Scammer Who Sold America On A Three-Wheeled Car

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, we’re telling you the wild and true story of the Dale -- a three-wheeled car embroiled in a wild controversy. The Dale was prim...

How Outlaws Invented Car Modding and Became Racing Stars

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, how a band of outlaws helped bring stock cars to the masses. How did rum runners and bootleggers start modding their cars to outrun...

Why The ’80s Was SuperCars Craziest Decade

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas-- How did the race to breaking 200mph in a production car set the tone for a decade? How did cars like the gorgeous Lamborghini Coun...

How The Pickup Truck Became America's Most Popular Vehicle

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s more American than baseball and apple pie? How about pickup trucks? Today, we’re talking about the history of pickups, from horseless wagon...

F1's Greatest Rivalries: Hamilton vs Alonso

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, one of the greatest rivalries in modern Formula One-- Lewis Hamilton versus Fernando Alonso. What were the origins of the rivalry, ...

How Eminem Helped Save Detroit

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Detroit has always been the beating heart of American car culture. But how did crisis after crisis nearly destroy not only its industry, but the city ...

That Time The Indy 500 Was Canceled

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, the Indy 500 of 1964. We’re giving you the whole story of the year they red flagged one of the most famous races in the world. W...

These Crazy Car Heists Actually Happened

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, CAR HEISTS! Turns out that Grand Theft Auto isn’t just a video game-- it’s a crime. We bring you eight insane true stories abou...

Group B’s Greatest Rivalry: Audi and Lancia

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Group B. The Golden Age of Rally Racing. It’s safe to say that auto racing will never again be this fast, thrilling, and dangerous. The most iconic...

MORE of the Greatest Barn Finds of All Time

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, it’s Barn Finds, PART TWO! How did a pair of Citroen prototypes wind up on the roof of a French barn? How does an ultra-rare Shel...

How Ford Made The Worst Car Ever

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here at Past Gas, we can’t get enough of car flops. How do bad cars get designed and approved? What makes a car a failure? How would you feel if you...

1994 Was F1’s Most Consequential Year

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas, we’re zooming in on a single year of Formula One-- one that saw the loss of a legend and the birth of a new superstar. We can oft...

The Underdogs Who Outraced The Nazis

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Beating Nazis in a racecar sounds like the plot of a ’90s action movie-- but it’s actually straight out of real life. Today on Past Gas, the story...

THIS GUY won F1, NASCAR, Indy, AND Le Mans?!

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Only three drivers have won in Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, and Sports Cars. Dan Gurney was the first. Gurney was like the Forrest Gump of cars in t...

The Stunt Too Crazy For Evel Knievel

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stunt driving is full of fearless, borderline crazy people. Today on Past Gas, we’re talking about possibly the craziest stunt man of them all. A gu...

How Marlboro Bought Off Ferrari For A BILLION Dollars

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas-- the troubled history of tobacco and racing. How and why did a major tobacco company exist without selling any products or services...

Are We Actually About to Get Flying Cars?

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Does anything symbolize the promise of the future like flying cars? From Star Wars to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from The Jetsons to James Bond, flying ...

Why The 90's Was The Decade Of The SuperCar

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Past Gas—why the ’90s was the golden age of supercars! The lightning fast McLaren F1, the objectively sexy Lamborghini Diablo, and the ve...

Why Volkswagen is the Gamestop of Cars

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Before Gamestop revolutionized the world of stonks, there was… Volkswagen. Over a decade before Reddit made GME a meme, one of the craziest short sq...

Land Rovers, Cigarettes, and Thicc Jungle- 20 Years of Camel Trophy

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world renowned Camel Trophy—one of the most brutal adventure driving events, and the ultimate proving grounds for Land Rover’s off-road capabi...

That Time Ford Tried To Cover Up 271 Deaths (But Got Caught)

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ford and Firestone started as automotive BFFs. The relationship between the two companies-- as well as two wealthy families-- lasted over a century. B...

How Niki Lauda Emerged From The Flames An F1 Champion

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve seen the movie Rush, you know the name Niki Lauda. The coldly competitive Austrian F1 driver was most known for his rivalry with British J...

How Lowriders Were A Protest Against White Supremacy

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On January 1, 1959, the government of California tried to kill the lowrider movement. But their efforts backfired-- instead giving rise to a golden ag...

How Hot Wheels Forged Drag Racing’s Greatest Rivalry

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Remember toy fads like pogs and silly bandz? The ’60s version was Snake and Mongoose, two real life drag racers who got immortalized in diecast form...

Bertha Benz: Was This The First Road Trip Ever?

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Back in the 1870s, Bertha Benz was married to a penniless engineer named Karl Benz. What happened to Karl is now part of German automotive legend-- bu...

Colin McRae Pt.2: A Death That Shocked the World

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Colin McRae’s motto was “if in doubt, flat out.” This week on Past Gas, we’ll talk about what came next for Colin McRae after winning the WRC,...

Colin McRae Pt. 1: Rally's Reckless Messiah

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Colin McRae’s motto was “if in doubt, flat out.” Today on Past Gas, we take a look at the Flying Scotsman and how he ruthlessly applied a “fla...

Hitler’s Racing Program

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Greatest Race Ever Happened in 1905

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 countl...

The Woman Who Led The Bloody Battle Against GM

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 co...

This Guy Bought The Honda F1 Team For $1.46

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 Davi...

The World's Most Expensive Car Collection Is Rotting Away

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 s...

The History of Racing Games Pt. 3: The Race To Realism

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

The History of Racing Games Pt. 2: How Gran Turismo Happened

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

The History of Racing Games Pt. 1: The Arcade Years

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

DeTomaso: The Supercar Designer Who Befriended Dictators

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ar...

Pike's Peak: The Complete History of the World's Highest Hill Climb

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How GM Built A Car For The Moon

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Forgotten Cars of Carroll Shelby: LIVE

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Murder of Racing Legend Mickey Thompson Pt.2

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Murder of Racing Legend Mickey Thompson Pt.1

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Michele Mouton, Queen B of Group B

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Past Gas, we’re talking about badass rally driver Michele Mouton, whose impressive racing career earned her the title of “faste...

How Japanese Street Racers Created the Best Car Magazine Ever

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

The Mid Night Club: Revisited

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 J...

The Greatest Barn Finds of All Time

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Bizarre Scandal that KILLED the Skyline in America

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 ca...

Introducing: Bring Back Bronco - The Untold Story

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

The Surprising Connection Between the VW Golf and the DeLorean

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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, Giorge...

The Racing Family that Death Couldn’t Stop - Isle of Man Pt. 2

10 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 Irela...

The Deadliest Sporting Event On Earth - Isle of Man Pt. 1

03 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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! T...

Will There Ever Be Another Rotary? Pt. 2

27 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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 discove...

The Rotary Before Mazda Pt. 1

20 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

How NASCAR ROBBED Their First Black Driver - Wendell Scott Pt.2

13 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week is the conclusion of our Wendell Scott series. Wendell has finally made it to the NASCAR Grand National Series, but his battle against discr...

The FIRST Black NASCAR Driver: Wendell Scott Pt.1

06 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re telling the inspirational story of NASCAR’s first black driver: Wendell Scott. From helping his dad in the garage as a kid , to be...

Duncan Hamilton: This Guy Won Le Mans DRUNK

29 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re looking into the bonkers life of Duncan Hamilton, the only man to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans drunk behind the wheel. This guy might hav...

Worst Weekend in Formula 1 History - Senna Pt.4

22 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In our series finale on Ayrton Senna, James, Joe, and Nolan relive that fateful moment on May 1, 1994, when Ayrton Senna crashed while driving in the ...

F1's Conspiracy Against Senna - Senna Pt. 3

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Past Gas, James, Joe, and Nolan dive into what is potentially the greatest rivalry of all time; Senna Vs. Prost. The rivalry began...