diff --git a/scopes/api/tracking.py b/scopes/api/tracking.py
index e2d0c4e..6c24161 100644
--- a/scopes/api/tracking.py
+++ b/scopes/api/tracking.py
@@ -2,22 +2,39 @@
 
 """basic (generic) routes and views for tracks (records)"""
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
 from fastapi.responses import HTMLResponse
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 import transaction
-from typing import Annotated
+from typing import Annotated, Any, Self
 
 from scopes.api import deps
 from scopes.storage import tracking
 from scopes.storage.common import Storage
 
+class Track(BaseModel):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def create(cls, obj: Any) -> Self:
+        return cls(**obj.asDict())
+
+    uid: str = None
+    head: dict[str, str]
+    data: dict[str, Any]
+    timeStamp: datetime = None
+
+# routes
+
 router = APIRouter()
 
-@router.get('/tracks')
-async def get_tracks(storage: Annotated[Storage, Depends(deps.storage)]):
+type Storage = Annotated[Storage, Depends(deps.storage)]
+
+@router.get('/tracks', response_model=list[Track])
+async def get_tracks(storage: Storage):
     tracks = storage.create(tracking.Container)
     result = [tr.asDict() for tr in tracks.query()]
-    #result = [Track(tr) for tr in tracks.query()]
+    #result = [Track.create(tr) for tr in tracks.query()]
     transaction.commit()
     return result
 
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 5018d4d..463afe8 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def test_tracking(storage, caplog):
         tracks = clt.get('/tracks').json()
         assert len(tracks) == 1
         tr = tracks[0]
+        assert tr['timeStamp'].startswith('202')
         tr['timeStamp'] = '...'
         assert tr == {'uid': 'rec-1', 'head': {'taskId': 't01', 'userName': 'john'}, 
                       'data': {'activity': 'testing'}, 'timeStamp': '...'}