10:23
Jake and the Jowets
Who the f”ck is Jake Jacobs?
Anyone who has been already on a Thursday evening between April and September to the
fertile land of Peer in Belgium, could or should have known him. Jake is the inspirer and
president of the Cars and Coffee Friends event there. Even if you do not know him personally,
you’ve probably already seen him with his parade horse that he pulls through the center on
that time.
Born and raised son of a farmer in the hamlet Boshoven, a little lost forgotten place
somewhere, at a stone’s throw from the village Gruitrode, where also the famous Phil
Bosmans was allowed to see the light of life. At the time of his short pants period, not many
vehicles passed in front of his doorstep. Once, he heard some noise of motors, and the little
Jacky hurried himself to witness the spectacle of smoke, fire and blowing hairs in the wind.
Cars, yes that was his passion.
As a growing up teenager he went like most of the habitants to the “vocational school”,
where one of his teachers found him to have an ‘artistic talent’ and he pushed him to follow
the Art Academy in Genk. He reveals himself as a landscape painter, mostly with charcoal,
and lived like Picasso in different artistic aspect. He also expresses himself in acrylic and oil
painting. Annually, he goes to the Drôme, which is in the South of France to follow the
footsteps of Van Gogh and follows the footsteps of Van Gogh. The subject of his Canvas is
also partially shifted into another passion: old racing cars. He calls it ‘Motor Art’ in which he
holds exhibits frequently.
Let us rewind a little ...
When Jake was old enough to slowly start thinking about getting a driver’s license, he quietly
dreamed of a Morgan. At the time, a rare but well-known appearance. At a flea market he
found an old book, containing a picture of a Jowett Jupiter. “What to hell is this ?“
He had a spiritual “aha” moment. A feeling of vibrating love at first sight overwhelmed him.
And as if fate gave him a tap with a magic wand ... not much later he encountered one in
reality. Not even far from his hometown! Since then, he couldn’t be stopped anymore, That
car must and will be his. He is like a passionate wild carnival customer in whatever he does.
And because his hobby surely cost a little money, Jake will do everything to turn his dream
into a reality.
The year is 1984. In addition to his job at Ford Genk he took ajob as a bouncer in the AHA, a
night club in Bocholt, where every young adult just as the three kings used to go to. He
gathered together the necessary money to buy his much coveted Jowett. It was a wreck when
he bought it, and he restored it with his own hands until what it is now. Tn 1990, he found a
second one in America which he imported and also restored in five years time. This one is in
‘Le Mans’ style. After all, back in history, a Jowett Jupiter three years in a row was winner at
Le Mans in its class.
You can’t say that for instance from a Porsche or Morgan. Again, fate has a firm finger in the
pie, because when the car arrived from the States, he discovered under the hood a label that
says “FL Jacobs Co”.’s Indianapolis. And on the wheel there was a medal with pictures of
Brussels and Manneken Pis. You would become religious for less. The car was destined to fall
in Belgian hands. Even further back in history. In 1951, three Jupiters where shipped to the
Paris Motor Show: two in blue and one in red. Of this, one blue went to Lebanon, the other
back to the UK, and the red stayed in Belgium. This is the only surviving Jowett Jupiter
among the six ever introduced in Belgium and is still alive.., in Peer.
Yes ... that creates a bond ...
Although the mark was previously unknown to us, it was very successful in the United
Kingdom from 1904 to 1954. The Jowett Car Club, with Jake as the oldest member of the
continent, is also the oldest brand club in the world. Familiar and without forced gay, it
organizes an international rally every two years. Last year, it was held in the Netherlands,
during the flowering tulips period. Before that Jake tuckered away all the way to Denmark,
and next year he’s must go to Switzerland. His car is no trailer queen, running on its own
power all the way from A to B.
If we will just cut these moments, we will find Jake’s most cherished, best and worst
experiences.
Years ago, when he was on his way to England, near Antwerp on the highway, a terrible
noise was to be heard until almost in his home town, 80 miles away. I-lis hair, for as far as
there is still present, still raises up in to the sky, when he thinks about it.
Full blood tragedy and car horror, at the same time, if you see the intestines of your gearbox
scattered all over the road.
But as a fan of the first hour, a little extra high voltage will not thrown him out off balance.
You simply have to sit out the ride as it comes.
He still managed to fix it to be present at the meet, and rightly so.
A week later, some members of the club who heard the story, delivered a fresh filled box at
his doorstep. It was as if it was just a common milkman. In most stories this guy pops up for
another purpose.
Jake’s best remembrance is the one of his tour of the Loire in France, a castle tour of nine
days with étapes from 3 to 400 km per day.
The Jowett is his passion and his life, which he drives about 2,000 km per year.
1f now you fancy to buy one, you can purchase a Jowett depending on the state from 25,000
until .. .pounds. But then you have something really special. Mind, mostly are right hand
drivers. Jake has two left hand driven cars, and with that, he is probably the only one
worldwide, The car pleases you with comfortable 60 horses, and has like a Porsche as a boxer
engine: 1500 cc, which is up front. In Wallonia,lives a third Belgian Jupiter. That’s all fòlks.
A tad lonely though. With regards to the design, it has an aluminum body, for one winner out
of the car genetic lottery, the other will always find a corner to still be polished.
In addition to Cars and Coffee spiriter, Jake is also co-fouider of the Belgian rallý ‘Pioneer
run’ (trektocht der pioniers) and he calls himself a “Car Hunter”. Always on the hunt for the
mysterious stories about pre-war vehicles from the mouth of curators of lost things. You can
read them, along with other serious jokes on http://www.bloggen.be/prel93Orally, with many
photos among others from Jake and texts of the undersigned.
Written by Ivo Bracken.