Past Gas by Donut Media

Donut

Donut's James Pumphrey, 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. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com   We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4  Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy read less

Our Editor's Take

Past Gas by Donut Media is an entertaining educational podcast about cars. Audiences can consider this more than an automotive history show, though. Hosts James Pumphrey, Nolan Sykes, and Joe Weber take listeners through stories of automotive glory. What's the craziest car rivalry story out there? How did society's favorite cars come to be? And what's the deal with F1 racers, anyway? The Past Gas podcast can answer these questions and more.

Listeners can expect historical context and some of the industry's wildest stories. The three hosts work together in hilarious harmony. Though the podcast is informative, it's also engaging and casual. This leaves the audience feeling like they're listening in on buddies chatting.

Audiences don't even need to be automotive lovers to take interest in this podcast. The chemistry between the hosts and their storytelling skills creates an immersive listen.

This podcast drops a new episode twice weekly. Audiences can expect new segments almost every Sunday and Thursday. Past Gas by Donut Media is not an episodic format—the audience can listen in any order they choose. Episodes run from about 30 minutes to over an hour. Listeners can now hear all Past Gas episodes on Amazon Music.

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Episodes

Past Gas #229: Mazda Pt 4: Mazda Pt 4: The First Japanese Car to Win Le Mans + 787B sounds
Yesterday
Past Gas #229: Mazda Pt 4: Mazda Pt 4: The First Japanese Car to Win Le Mans + 787B sounds
Le Mans, 1991. The Mazdaspeed team has been chasing gold at the legendary endurance race for the better part of a decade, and the team can only watch on anxiously as the clock ticks past midnight. With a looming ban on rotary engines, they know that the rotary-powered 787b is their last chance at victory. And for now, roughly every 3 and a half minutes, the nervous silence is broken as the distinctive 4-rotor engine screams with a ferocity down the pit straight. How did one of the most legendary race cars of all time come to be? How did Takayoshi Ohashi lead Mazda to become the first Japanese manufacturer to conquer Le Mans? And how has Mazda become the company it is today? Find out today, on the final episode of Past Gas’s history of Mazda! Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed: https;//Indeed.com/PASTGAS Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self.  More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #228: Mazda Pt 3: The RX-7 & Mazdaspeed
Mar 11 2024
Past Gas #228: Mazda Pt 3: The RX-7 & Mazdaspeed
1974. For the past six years, Mazda Sports Corner have taken the rotary engine to task against the racing titans of Europe. And back in Japan, Mazda’s high-revving rotaries have captured the attention of the underground racing scene, and can be heard screaming at 9,000rpm down streets and expressways across the country. But how did two tuning companies come to shape Mazda’s image on the track and on the street? How did Isami Amemiya create a blueprint for Mazda tuner culture that has withstood the test of time? And how did Takayoshi Ohashi set Mazda on a path to motorsport immortality? Today on Past Gas, part three of our four-part history of Mazda!  Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed. Just go to https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Download the Prize Picks app today and use code gas for a first deposit match up to $100! Explore 2024 with Lectric eBikes. The most accessible and adventurous eBikes ever. Visit https://LectricEbikes.com to learn more.  More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #227: Mazda Pt 2: The Birth of the Rotary Engine
Mar 4 2024
Past Gas #227: Mazda Pt 2: The Birth of the Rotary Engine
It’s October 1963, and the 10th Tokyo Motor Show is underway. Toyo Kogyo’s Mazda brand has had some success, but to prove its worth as an independent business to the government, Toyo Kogyo President Tsuneji Matsuda has hedged the company’s future on a new, pistonless engine technology that many considered to be a fantasy. But soon, that fantasy would become a reality. How did Tsuneji Matsuda take Mazda from a small truck manufacturer to a respected car-maker during one of the most competitive times in history? How did they take an engine technology no one believed in and use it to save the company? And how did Mazda create two brand-defining cars in barely more than a decade? We’ll find out today on Past Gas, in part two of our four-part series on Mazda. Thanks to our sponsors: Explore 2024 with Lectric eBikes. The most accessible and adventurous eBikes ever. Visit https://LectricEbikes.com to learn more.  This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. Start building your credit. Open a Chime Checking account with at least a $200 qualifying direct deposit to get started. Get started at https://chime.com/gas. Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #226: Mazda Pt 1: Mazda Used to be a Cork Factory
Feb 26 2024
Past Gas #226: Mazda Pt 1: Mazda Used to be a Cork Factory
It’s the morning of August 6th, 1945. Jujiro Matsuda is heading back home after visiting his company headquarters in nearby Hiroshima, where his small trucks called Mazdas have become fixtures of the city. And suddenly, behind him, there’s a bright flash. The city that had grown on the backs of the Mazda trucks for more than a decade had vanished in an instant, and it would be Jujiro and the Mazdas that would lead its rebuilding. But how did the son of a poor fisherman become a Hiroshima success story? How did he set a cork manufacturing company on the path to the Mazda we know today? And how did he and this young company rise to reunite and rebuild a city destroyed by an atomic bomb? Today on Past Gas, part one of our four-part series on Mazda. Thanks to our sponsors: Shop now at https://TheFreezePipe.com and use code GAS for 10% off your entire order.  Explore the Subaru Crosstrek. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek. Learn more at https://Subaru.com Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #225: Macau GP - “Asia’s Monaco” is a Notoriously Dangerous Street Circuit
Feb 19 2024
Past Gas #225: Macau GP - “Asia’s Monaco” is a Notoriously Dangerous Street Circuit
Beyond the Macau Grand Prix’s rich history, the event has become a cultural phenomenon, drawing motorsport enthusiasts and fans to the vibrant city to witness the convergence of speed, strategy, and sheer determination on a circuit that combines tradition with cutting edge automotive technology. But for all of its positive influence, the history of the Macau GP is fraught with controversy. How did it evolve from an amateur street race into one of the world’s most dangerous motorsport events? Why does this grand prix attract so many aspiring F1 drivers? And what controversies have left some fans calling for a complete eradication of the event altogether? Today on Past Gas, we untangle the sordid past of the Macau Grand Prix. Thanks to our sponsors: Start the Good Habit at https://tryfum.com/PAST to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. Need to hire? You need Indeed. https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS. Explore the Subaru Crosstrek. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek. Learn more at https://Subaru.com More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #224: F1's Greatest Rivalries: Hamilton vs Rosberg (aka “The Silver War”)
Feb 12 2024
Past Gas #224: F1's Greatest Rivalries: Hamilton vs Rosberg (aka “The Silver War”)
August, 2014. Gasoline and burnt rubber linger in the air at Spa-Francorchamps circuit, where the podium celebration for the Belgian Grand Prix is underway. The announcer calls the name of the second place finisher - Nico Rosberg. This should be a moment of celebration. But the crowd below roars with boos. Because the driver who Rosberg has overtaken in the quest for the championship is his childhood friend, turned F1 teammate, turned bitter rival, Lewis Hamilton. And just hours prior, Rosberg ran him off the road. Can a boyhood bond survive a fierce F1 title race? What about three in a row? And who prevails in the ultimate battle of strategy versus speed? Today on Past Gas, we’re talking about the Silver War, aka the battle between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Thanks to our sponsors: Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Need to hire? You need Indeed. https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS. Explore the Subaru Crosstrek. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek. Learn more at https://Subaru.com More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #223: The Mustang That Took Down Porsche
Feb 5 2024
Past Gas #223: The Mustang That Took Down Porsche
The 70’s and early 80’s were practically an arms race of automotive engineering. From fuel injection to turbos to aerodynamics, manufacturers and privateers alike were breaking new ground in the name of ever-faster lap times. It was an age of pioneering that bridged the gap between the legends of the past and the racing we love today. What was Group 5 Special Production? Why were the late 1970’s considered a golden era for circuit racing? And how did Ford manage to unseat one of the most successful Porsches ever made? This is the story of the Mustang that Took Down Porsche.  Thanks to our sponsors: Start the Good Habit at https://tryfum.com/PAST to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. Start building your credit. Open a Chime Checking account with at least a $200 qualifying direct deposit to get started. Get started at https://chime.com/gas. This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Become your own soulmate, whether you’re looking for one or not. Visit https://BetterHelp.com/PASTGAS today to get 10% off your first month. Go to https://LECTRICEBIKES.COM to learn more about their wide selection of eBikes that start at just $799 with the XP Lite. Explore the Subaru Crosstrek. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek. Learn more at https://Subaru.com More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #222: Cosworth Pt 2: WRC Rally & the Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Jan 29 2024
Past Gas #222: Cosworth Pt 2: WRC Rally & the Ford Escort RS Cosworth
Just one decade into their journey, Cosworth had dominated IndyCar racing and changed the face of Formula 1. But while any other company would be satisfied with that kind of record, Mike and Keith were far from done. Even though Cosworth already had a stack of incredible achievements under its belt, what the company has been able to achieve post-1970 is just as, if not more, revolutionary. But how would the lessons Cosworth learned in their early years affect their philosophy moving forward? How would their incredible accomplishments on the asphalt translate to the dirt? And how could a company use principles from the 50s to revolutionize the industry well into the 21st Century?  Thanks to our sponsors: Explore 2024 with Lectric eBikes. The most accessible and adventurous eBikes ever. Visit https://LectricEbikes.com to learn more. And be sure to mention thatPast Gas by Donut Media sent you in the post-checkout survey! Explore the Subaru Crosstrek. Love is out there. Find it in a Crosstrek. Learn more at https://Subaru.com Purchase onX Offroad today and use the code Donut20 to get 20% off. https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/app More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #221: Cosworth Pt 1: The Most Successful Engine Maker in F1 History
Jan 22 2024
Past Gas #221: Cosworth Pt 1: The Most Successful Engine Maker in F1 History
Between 1968 and 1974, every single Constructors Championship in F1 was won by the same Cosworth engine - the DFV - and in 1969 and 1973, every single F1 race was won by a DFV-powered car. This one engine was responsible for F1 wins across four decades - the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. But who the hell is Cosworth? What’s their magic formula? And most importantly, how did two gentlemen engineers in suits manage to create an engine-tuning empire that changed racing for decades? Today on Past Gas, it’s part one of our two-part series on COSWORTH. Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed. Get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS. Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. Explore 2024 with Lectric eBikes. The most accessible and adventurous eBikes ever. Visit https://LectricEbikes.com to learn more. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #219: Renault: The Rise and Fall… and Rise Again?
Jan 8 2024
Past Gas #219: Renault: The Rise and Fall… and Rise Again?
Like many of the other car companies founded just before the turn of the 20th century, Renault made itself known for its revolutionary innovations — a concept that the company has employed time and again, to varying degrees of success. But how did three French brothers decide they had a shot in the automotive industry? What was it about Renault's innovative approach to business that keeps it balancing on a fine line between success and failure? And how could a company bearing a family name survive so much scandal? In this episode of Past Gas, we're going to find out - we’re talkin’ Renault. Thanks to our Sponsors: Go to https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas now to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Build your credit this new year. Just open a Chime Checking Account with a $200+ qualified direct deposit to get started. Go to https://chime.com/gas. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self Visit https://LectricEbikes.com to learn more. And be sure to mention that Past Gas sent you in the post-checkout survey! More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Past Gas #216: Mint 400: The Chaotic Race Across the Las Vegas Desert
Dec 11 2023
Past Gas #216: Mint 400: The Chaotic Race Across the Las Vegas Desert
“In some circles, the Mint 400 is a far, far better thing than the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals all rolled into one. This race attracts a special breed,” wrote Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But how did a bunch of hospitality industry employees with little-to-no knowledge of motorsports turn a publicity stunt into The Great American Off-Road Race? Why did the Mint 400 go dark after twenty successful years? And what about this uniquely Vegas race ensured its eventual comeback? Buy the ticket, take the ride. Today on Past Gas: the story of The Mint 400.  Thanks to our sponsors: Start hiring NOW with a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at https://Indeed.com/PASTGAS . Offer good for a limited time. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/PASTGAS and get on your way to being your best self. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.   Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!   Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or using this link: http://bit.ly/PastGas. If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be helpful! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: http://bit.ly/PastGas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices