David Hawke (Len Hawke’s son). “I purchased this ‘Flower Power’ Hawke board from a bloke call Grant. He got it from a neighbour’s son who was cleaning the family house to get ready for sale after the loss of his parents. As the story goes, the son got the board new, he used it once or twice, on the outing he had a mishap and lost his front teeth. So, the board was put in the garage, which is where it stayed until about a year ago when Grant acquired it.
Hawke Surfboards glasserTony Harrison (from 1967 to 1974-75) has documented his recollections of this ‘Flower Power’ board and what he remembers was happening at the Hawke factory at the time.”
David Hawke with the 1968-69 Hawke Flower Power board. Image courtesy of David Hawke.
Tony Harrison’s ‘Flower Power board recollections
There were at least seven people involved in the production of that particular board. There was Bill Hawke (Len’s twin) down the back room, manufacturing the surfboard blanks. There the blanks would be covered in paper, then stored for the next process.
Len Hawke would cut the blanks in half, “buzz” them flat, place them into a jig, either a wooden stringer was glue between the two, or as for the stringer-less Flower Power boards, some were just cut in half then glued back together again in the desired shape in the jig.
Murray Smith shaped most of the 8 footers then, down to the small “Persian Shoe” under 6 ft in length. Peter Hawke Shaped from the beginning the of the traditional Mal’s through to the 9’6” and the ¾ roll contour on the bottom of the boards. This is also the time that Peter Taught me how to shape.
So, this Board was made late 1968 to 1969.
The next part of its construction was into the “glassing bay” a row of four racks on which the next four surfboards were being prepared for ‘glassing” by “me” Tony Harrison.
Rose Hawke would cut out cotton flowers, any shape or colour, the I would position them between the two layers of glass, same as we did with the Hawke Surfboards sticker. I can’t remember if it was an Ordered Board or a Demo for the Showroom. What I do remember was that my girlfriend or 1st Wife had a Ballgown made from the exact material. She wouldn’t let me photograph them both together.
It took a little bit longer to glass the cotton material, as this gave a little extra strength, we could then reduce the glass fibre weight. Once the long fibreglass fin is in place, and a layer of filler coat resin covers all the board, it goes to the sanding booth.
It was here Doug Lacklison sanded the boards. He and I both learnt not to do this job dressed in boardshorts and T-shirt, the dreaded fibreglass “itch” Doug had a large fan sucking out the dust and fibres into large bags, Doug’s moustache always had white dust thro ‘it.’
This board has now been dusted and cleaned. It has gone into the finishing room, where the board is prepared for its final coat of resin. Murray, Me and Doug all did a stint at Glossing the boards, then a final wet and dry the rails and the final “buffing.”
The final inspection by Peter Hawke and the board is ready for the Showroom then to be sold.
It is good to see this Hawke Flower Power board has lasted so long in good condition.
That is as much as I can remember about that board, hope that helps.
“Len, I still have my toolbox you bought for us for our tools when Doug and I first started at Hawke’s.”
See you all soon.
Tony Harrison
Retired Surfing Coach.
Albany WA
Another image of the fibre inlay in the 1968-69 Hawke Flower Power board. Image courtesy of Murray Smith.
Hawke Surfboard display
This vintage Hawke surfboard (and others) have been loaned by the Hawke family to the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup and will soon be on display for the public.
This coming weekend Len Hawke’s family, Tony Harrison and other former Hawke employee’s will be at the Surf Gallery to view the Hawke Surfboard display.
David Hawke (Len Hawke’s son). “I purchased this ‘Flower Power’ Hawke board from a bloke call Grant. He got it from a neighbour’s son who was cleaning the family house to get ready for sale after the loss of his parents. As the story goes, the son got the board new, he used it once or twice, on the outing he had a mishap and lost his front teeth. So, the board was put in the garage, which is where it stayed until about a year ago when Grant acquired it.
Hawke Surfboards glasser Tony Harrison (from 1967 to 1974-75) has documented his recollections of this ‘Flower Power’ board and what he remembers was happening at the Hawke factory at the time.”
Tony Harrison’s ‘Flower Power board recollections
There were at least seven people involved in the production of that particular board. There was Bill Hawke (Len’s twin) down the back room, manufacturing the surfboard blanks. There the blanks would be covered in paper, then stored for the next process.
Len Hawke would cut the blanks in half, “buzz” them flat, place them into a jig, either a wooden stringer was glue between the two, or as for the stringer-less Flower Power boards, some were just cut in half then glued back together again in the desired shape in the jig.
Murray Smith shaped most of the 8 footers then, down to the small “Persian Shoe” under 6 ft in length. Peter Hawke Shaped from the beginning the of the traditional Mal’s through to the 9’6” and the ¾ roll contour on the bottom of the boards. This is also the time that Peter Taught me how to shape.
So, this Board was made late 1968 to 1969.
The next part of its construction was into the “glassing bay” a row of four racks on which the next four surfboards were being prepared for ‘glassing” by “me” Tony Harrison.
Rose Hawke would cut out cotton flowers, any shape or colour, the I would position them between the two layers of glass, same as we did with the Hawke Surfboards sticker. I can’t remember if it was an Ordered Board or a Demo for the Showroom. What I do remember was that my girlfriend or 1st Wife had a Ballgown made from the exact material. She wouldn’t let me photograph them both together.
It took a little bit longer to glass the cotton material, as this gave a little extra strength, we could then reduce the glass fibre weight. Once the long fibreglass fin is in place, and a layer of filler coat resin covers all the board, it goes to the sanding booth.
It was here Doug Lacklison sanded the boards. He and I both learnt not to do this job dressed in boardshorts and T-shirt, the dreaded fibreglass “itch” Doug had a large fan sucking out the dust and fibres into large bags, Doug’s moustache always had white dust thro ‘it.’
This board has now been dusted and cleaned. It has gone into the finishing room, where the board is prepared for its final coat of resin. Murray, Me and Doug all did a stint at Glossing the boards, then a final wet and dry the rails and the final “buffing.”
The final inspection by Peter Hawke and the board is ready for the Showroom then to be sold.
It is good to see this Hawke Flower Power board has lasted so long in good condition.
That is as much as I can remember about that board, hope that helps.
“Len, I still have my toolbox you bought for us for our tools when Doug and I first started at Hawke’s.”
See you all soon.
Tony Harrison
Retired Surfing Coach.
Albany WA
Hawke Surfboard display
This vintage Hawke surfboard (and others) have been loaned by the Hawke family to the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup and will soon be on display for the public.
This coming weekend Len Hawke’s family, Tony Harrison and other former Hawke employee’s will be at the Surf Gallery to view the Hawke Surfboard display.
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Hawke Surfboards the early days by Tony Harrison published 6 Jan 2021.
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