Back in the first Tracker era, 1968 and 69, We found we were playing with a whole new way to develop speed down the line. This was Phase Two of the Shortboard Revolution, after the Plastic Machine deep-vee's of 1967.

Working closely with Greenough the previous 4 years really helped, but in 1968/69 it was Ted Spencer who really pushed the envelope with the full rail bottom turn.

Ted would rave to me about the "Hovercraft Effect" whereby the standard elements of speed generation from a turn-- flat planing area, fin, and rail-- would all fade in importance individually, and meld into a hissing screaming "hull" that simply flew super-efficiently in that cranked-up position.

Like much of Ted's ravings, it was hard for George and I to break down into simple physics to fit into the "what-we-know" category, but he was certainly onto something.

Then this photo of Matty Chojnacki shows up. Last week at Balangan, Bali. 

Guess what he's riding? A 1969 Tracker with low rocker, rolled fee, sweet single fin. Just what Ted and I were working on.

Matty's words on Instagram: "the fastest mid-length in the world 2 to 6 feet.. the Trackers hammer!" - Maybe we went too fast through this era. Maybe we skipped past some really valuable break-throughs?

Bob

Me at Angourie in '69 - Photo Alby Falzon

Matty Chono at Keramas last week. Photo Ben Harper