Sometimes the simple things are best. Sure concaved, cambered, vert-lam bamboo, carbon wrapped hi-tech goodies are cool, but a few plies of flat Baltic Birch can be Nirvana. Case in point…the GarageBomb 44.

The GarageBomb 44 is 44″ long (duh…), 9″ wide at it’s widest point, and sports a 29″ wheelbase. Cut-aways at both ends allow for pretty much any wheel you wanna run. It’s shaped from 1/2 Baltic Birch, which gives it a nice spring. GarageBombs are handmade one at a time in San Antonio, Texas. Our boy Blaster, the brains and builder of GarageBomb, slaps an immaculate finish on them too, pictures don’t do it justice. Blaster offers custom finishes and graphics as well. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is second to none. That crazy old man from San Antonio makes a damn fine board.
I initially set it up as shown with Randal 180s and Abec 11 Retro 70mm 80a Zig Zags. I’ve had in this set up for about 9 months, and it was good…great even. Blaster actually designed the board to run the Randals. The bounce of the board coupled with Randal’s legendary turn? Ooh Mama! The usually forbidden phrase “Just one more run” is repeated over and over whenever I take the 44 out.
Then one day a box was waiting at my front door..
Tracker FasTracks!






The FasTracks have 7” hangers and 50-degree pivot angles. Like Randals you have the ability to flip the hanger to make for a more stable ride. Did I mention the Stimulator 3 bushings? No I didn’t. These things are huge! Word has it that when all is said and done there will be 3 different duros available, the orange are medium. The Stim 3s won’t fit on any other truck, but Tracker designed the FasTrack’s hanger to accept common size bushings too. Top and bottom bushings are both coned. Grade 8 kingpins, and not a cup washer in sight. The brains at Tracker sat down with the brains of some of the top longboard companies to hear what this planet needed in a truck. It appears they listened. Lock, stock, out of the box, they’re ready to rock. (but you’re gonna have to wait awhile before they hit the market…methinks very soon though.)

But do they work? Yes, yes they do. Those big ol’ honkin’ bushings provide a stable ride in a straight line, but are ready to turn when you are. I roll in at about 190 lbs. the medium duro works well for me. My 10 year old grom weighs more than a 100 lbs less than me, obviously they’re not gonna react the same to him, but he was smiles and thumbs up coming back up the hill. I’ll be picking up the softer duros as soon as available…’cause loose trucks save lives, and with the GB 44s cut-aways…wheelbite won’t be an issue.
Did the GB 44 lose it’s zing with the truck swap? Not just no, but HELL no. Still a platform of Heavenly goodness.
Do yourself a favor and support this DIY company. Blaster and GarageBombs are both completely humble bad asses. If you get a GarageBomb complete, Blaster takes care of all those little tweaks for you…swaps out the king pins, and throws flat bushing washers on the Randals etc.
Check ‘em out and tell ‘em GOB sent ya.
http://www.garagebomblongboards.com/