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 of Datsun and Nissan intertwined?? How did Yoshisuke Aikawa’s leadership turn Japan into an...

Over the past several decades, “The Great Race” has become a vital part of the fabric of Australian motorsport, and by extension, Australian culture. How did the Bathurst 1000 change Australian motorsport? How has one event given the racing world everything from V8 Supercars to the R32 GT-R known as “Godzilla?” And what about it has made it a cultural icon? Today on Past Gas, it’s the history of the Bathurst 1000. Thanks to our sponsors: Need to hire? You need Indeed....

Despite its affinity for front-wheel drive cars, especially in its legendary 99 and 900 badges, Swedish automaker Saab still managed to sell one of its properly cool cars as a wagon with all-wheel drive. The 9-2X Aero. But here’s the thing: It wasn’t a true Saab, but a mashup of GM DNA mixed with Subaru. And, it was entirely built by Subaru, too. But let’s take a step back and try to get an idea of where it all started. When did Saab start slipping away? What did platform sharing and badge...

The story of Saab is one of out-of-the-box thinking. This Swedish brand barely made it past its 70th birthday before it died, but the legacy it built throughout those decades made it something truly special. But what made Saab such a legend in all things detail-oriented and quirky? What were the most legendary and popular models, and what made them so fun-to-drive? And finally, why did the brand die out in the early 2010s? Today on Past Gas, part one of our two part story on Saab! Thanks to...

This week, the boys dive into the F1 Australian Grand Prix, Fiskers downfall and pay respects to Marcello Gandini. Plus, a Cybertruck update and why a Houston car meet is banning muscle cars. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.  Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook channels!  Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever...

With hands blistered by a red-hot steering wheel and a head still reeling from a long night of sex and champagne, Hellé Nice won the first all-female Grand Prix at Montlhéry. The next day, Bugatti invited her to their showroom to convince Nice to compete under their name. She signed a sponsorship deal with Lucky Strike cigarettes, and with her immaculate profile, Nice bought herself a yacht. Now a household name, Hellé Nice was then invited to show her skills on the board tracks of the United...

This week the boys chat about all the new (old) cars we're able to import in 2024, how Porsche's new hybrid drivetrain might piss some people off, and the exciting start to F1 Academy. Plus, after a 17 year run, could this be the last year Nissan is making the GTR? More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.  Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our Youtube and Facebook...

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...

This week, James, Nolan, and Justin talk about the VW Golf’s 50th birthday, the return of Scout, and the WILD Dodge Charger announcement from last week. Plus, thoughts on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, how a Ford Van broke a bunch of records, and Bugatti's newest 16 cylinder engine. More about Show: Follow Nolan on IG and Twitter @nolanjsykes.  Follow Joe on IG and Twitter @joegweber. Follow James on IG and Twitter @jamespumphrey. Follow Donut @donutmedia, and subscribe to our...

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...

INTRODUCING: The Big Three, Donut's new podcast that examines the latest car news, racing headlines, and anything noteworthy in the automotive landscape. A perfect weekly update for anyone even slightly interested in cars, The Big Three is an entertaining glimpse into an inclusive yet opinionated world.  Join hosts James Pumphrey, Nolan Sykes and Joe Weber as they provide their lighthearted perspective on the hottest and weirdest automotive trends. The only car podcast you’ll ever need, aside...

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...

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...

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?...

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,...

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...

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?...

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,...

Mark Donohue never quite fit the look of a race car driver. But regardless of how he looked on the outside, his methodology not only changed the literal rules of racing but also the industry as a whole. So how did this All-American, Ivy League guy end up in a race car? How did he go from being nicknamed “Captain Nice” to “Dark Donohue?” And why did he pull that classic race driver stunt by coming out of retirement after only a year off? Today on Past Gas, we’re talking about Captain Nice...

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...

Catch our episode on the historic rivalry between Audi and Lancia on this exclusive episode revisit! 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 battle of Group B was in 1983, when the beefy 4WD Audi Quattro faced off against the stylin’ Italian rear-wheel drive Lancia 037. Who prevailed in what many consider to be the greatest rally battle of all time? You gotta listen to today’s Past Gas...

It’s finally that time of year that James, Nolan, and Joe are winding down at the podcast studio, getting ready for a loooooong winter’s nap. So today on Past Gas, they’re gonna learn a little bit about some different listener-submitted stories and a whole lotta big dogs. This is Santa’s Coal Bag: We Did Your Crummy Ideas, volume 2! Thanks to our sponsors: Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://SHOPIFY.COM/gas ! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online...

During the 80s and early 90s, Pablo Escobar was the richest, most ruthless cocaine trafficker in the world. But before his life was monopolized by drugs, money, and gang wars, Pablo was a man with a simple dream: to be a race car driver. And for two memorable seasons in the Colombian circuit, Pablo cheated and stole his way onto a championship podium. But how did he do it? What driver did he bring up on the way? And did everyone know his REAL job?! Today on Past Gas: the brief but insane...

“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...