JACOB LENOBLE
WITH a dad like Mark Schwarz – owner of the Powercruise hero HQ Monaro known as HANFUL – Jacob Lenoble was destined for the burnout life. We caught up with him to find out more about his methanol-drinking, Ls2-powered Datsun 120Y, SYCOPTH.
Growing up around your dad, you’ve probably been in some cool rides.
We’ve always had nice Commodores and things with tough motors, so I was always going to be into cars.
As a young bloke, how do you fund your hobby?
I do house painting with my dad for a living; then I come home and do car painting as well.
When did you pick up the Datsun?
I’ve been mucking around with it for four or five years now, but I only started driving it last year. I took it to Summernats 33, where I did the street cruise and Skid Row. Brashernats was my first competition skid, but since then I’ve also done
I LOVE THE ADRENALINE RUSH, TRYING TO KEEP IT OFF THE WALLS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT
Gladstone. I love the adrenaline rush, trying to keep it off the walls and figuring out what to do next.
Why a 120Y?
Everybody else had Corollas when we bought it, but we found the Datsun cheap and it was half-done to how we wanted it. When we first built it, it was an LS1 with the
biggest cam you could put in without doing other stuff to the motor.
Sounds like you’ve made some changes since then.
It now runs an LS2 6.0-litre with dual E85 650 Holley carbies, built by Trapnell Race Engines. The transmission is a Turbo 400 built by Craig’s Automatics. It has a Hilux diff that’s been cut up, baffled and strengthened internally, along with chrome-moly axles and stock rear suspension. All the front suspension is out of a Nissan S13, with adjustable arms and coil-overs. Steering is a manual KE70 Corolla rack with a Yaris electrical column. I pretty much did everything myself except for the motor and gearbox.
What’s your favourite event you’ve done so far? Definitely Summernats – it was an amazing way to do my first event!
You’ve done Powercruise Powerplay too. How did you fare?
I did back-to-back cruising and powerskids, and the car just did not give up! I went through three sets of tyres on the pad without a break. It was enough to take home third place, along with Best Tip-in and Limiter Legend. Then it drove straight on the trailer and back into the shed, ready for the next event. How does it compare to your dad’s car?
His HQ is a lot different to the Datsun. My car is trickier to
AT POWERPLAY, I DID BACK-TO-BACK CRUISING AND POWERSKIDS, AND THE CAR JUST DID NOT GIVE UP!
steer because of the short wheelbase, but it gets around the pad much easier!
Any future plans for it?
I’d like to put a blower on it a couple of years down the track, but for now I’m building a tough, stroked NA LS2 with stronger internals.
What do your mates think of it?
My whole group of friends are into the car scene, so they love it. A few of them come along to events, and jump in any chance they get!