In 1986, the Williams Formula 1 team should have taken the World Championship, but their drivers Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell decided to turn on each other instead. But how did the son of a Brazilian doctor become one of the most controversial names in Formula 1 history? What was it that catapulted a young Nelson Piquet into the international spotlight so soon after his first-ever go-kart race? Was the bias against him legitimate, or was it the product of a nationalistic media playing favorites? Today on Past Gas, we're delving into all things Nelson Piquet.

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:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Talladega was a prime testing facility because it was the fastest circle track on the planet, and Chrysler was there to set a record. The day was overcast and cool as NASCAR legend Buddy Baker shifted into gear and pulled onto the track. It didn’t take long for the driver to smash the 200 mph record. What was this top secret car that Chrysler hired NASCAR royalty to test? How did they shatter open-wheel Indy Car records with a lowly stock car? How did this weird, but effective, race car win back Richard “The King” Petty after he ditched Chrysler for Ford? Today on Past Gas, we dig into the incredible tale of the Dodge Charger Daytona.

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wheldon was a talented and charming driver who left an indelible mark on the world of motorsport. But how did this unflappable Englishman break through to IndyCar stardom? Why did he turn down the offer to race in Formula One? And how did his tragic death shape the future of IndyCar? Today on Past Gas, we explore the legacy of IndyCar champion, Dan Wheldon. 

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RWB is legendary to car enthusiasts world-wise. But how did a drift kid from Japan redefine the Porsche? How did some carbon fiber fenders take over the desires of gamers drooling over air-cooled 911s? How can a leather arm chair, a carton of smokes, and some Mexican Cokes get you one step closer to owning your own outlaw Porsche? Today on Past Gas, we dive into the origins of the most controversial Porsche tuner to ever get his hands on a pneumatic sawzall - Akira Nakai.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 11, 1994. It’s the opening night of The Petersen Automotive Museum, and Hollywood is out in full force. But it’s not the celebrities we usually think of - it’s the cars they drive. None of this would have been possible without the charity and automotive passion of the museum’s namesake: Robert E. Petersen. How did he turn his passion for hot rodding into the modern car show? How did he, without a formal education, turn an 8-page, 25 cent magazine into one of the world’s premier publishing companies? And how would he come to create an automotive mecca in the heart of LA? Today on Past Gas: The story of Robert E. Petersen and The Petersen Automotive Museum.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chevrolet isn’t just a company, it’s an American institution. Today on Past Gas, the story of a world-conquering company that almost wasn’t. How did the men who made Chevy lose it so quickly? How did the company nearly get shut down by its own board, then come back to overtake Ford in sales only 7 years later? How did an up-and-coming lawyer flip Chevy’s attitude about safety even quicker than a Corvair could flip itself? All that and more on today’s Past Gas, about the beginnings of Chevrolet and the man who stole its name, William Durant.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the end of WWII, the world was eager to get back to work, and more specifically, back to makin’ cars. Japan was particularly ready to rebuild their economy, but were missing some crucial materials: steel, gasoline, and money. And as it turns out, the lack of those resources crafted the perfect storm for the creation of the Kei car. Often misunderstood, underappreciated, and forgotten, these minimobiles are some of the most fascinating examples of problem-solving in automotive history. How did they come about? Why did they stick around for so long? And perhaps most importantly, what are they?? Today on Past Gas, we’re talking about that quirkiest of automotive curiosites - the Kei car.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anyone who’s ever been to Speed Week at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah knows the incomparable feeling of standing on this hallowed ground. Some dream, work, scrimp, and save their entire lives to get a chance to make a pass at breaking a land speed record here. The story is as old as time, but perhaps none have embodied it better than Kiwi motorcycle legend Burt Munro and his 1920 Indian Scout. But how does an almost 70 year old man from New Zealand, with no sponsorships, travel nearly half way across the globe to achieve a land speed record on a 50 year old bike that still stands today? Today on Past Gas - we relive the unbelievably true story behind the World’s Fastest Indian and it’s mythical builder, Burt Munro.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colin Chapman’s Formula 1 trophy case is an impressive one, with seven Constructors’ Championships and six Drivers’ Championships since 1963. Beyond his championship seasons, Chapman’s imprint on the sport is hard to comprehend – some suggest that Chapman might have more to do with the basic design of today’s mid-engine, open-wheeled racing cars than any other single builder. Would Formula 1 be recognizable without Colin Chapman? Did his habit of playing fast and loose with F1 rules foreshadow the way he played fast and loose with corporate finance laws? And did he FAKE HIS OWN DEATH? Today on Past Gas: the man behind Lotus, Colin Chapman.

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the world of engine tuning, two names (strange as they may be) are often at the top of the list. These companies upended the racing world with their attention to detail and refusal to accept anything but the best in terms of power, precision, and yes, speed. Today on Past Gas, we take a look at Spoon and Mugen. How did these companies start? How have they evolved over the years to stay on top? What are their plans for the future? And where did they get the name ‘Spoon’ from, anyway?

Thanks to our sponsors:

More about Show:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices