• I’m hearing reports that Big Indian Paintball is going to be alive (sort of) with Zombies this weekend. LCP’s head ref Bubba Smith tells me that it’s taking more and more coffee to get Manager Bill Murray going in the morning. Not a good sign…
• Meanwhile, Valken’s Greg Muller is once again assisting with my wife’s butt, this time covering it in Valken’s pink Tron pants.
• Machine Paintball officially announces their sponsorship of the Palm Beach Vipers. Check out http://www.machinepaintball.com to see what makes the Vipers giggle!
• Planet Eclipse releases the official trailer for the ETEK 4: http://thefordreport.com/2012/05/the-planet-eclipse-etek-4/
• ANS Gear has them on pre-order, by the way.
• Named after a Norse God, the new Empire Vidar mask arrived this week, and was promptly confiscated by my stepdaughter. She has to sleep sometime, so I should be able to spirit it away this weekend to Big Indian to give it the once-over.
• Shooting Hot Magazine writer/photographer/videographer/reporter Seth “Big Boss” Manchester has released episode 2 of Shooting Hot TV: http://thefordreport.com/2012/05/shtv-episode-2/
• Ryan Sexton joins the Valken team: http://thefordreport.com/2012/05/ryan-sexton-joins-valken/
• Not to be outdone, Andy Potter kicked my door in to report this: “Valken is reminding everyone to get your teams signed up ahead of time for paint for NPPL Chicago to get the hook up ! We will be selling the good stuff : Redemption PRO!!! For more details or to sign your team up for paint for the event, please contact andy@valken.com .”
• Blue, having learned his lessons from the Death Kitties and Bo The Happy Puppy, dropped by without kicking anything in to lay this on me: “Pump Only CASTLE CONQUEST is coming to EMR on May 26th. We will also be allowing 12 gram Pistols even if they are semi-automatic. Pre-registration ends this Friday the 11th, so gets yours in now. For more information, go to www.EMRPAINTBALL.com/pumpwinter.shtml . Only $50 prepaid and includes 500 paintballs. “
• The Scottish Warriors are running a game May 20^th over in Europe: http://www.raidersbiggame.co.uk/ All proceeds from the game are going to the Help for Heroes charity, which helps soldiers and their families.
• Empire paintball has made the barrel kit that comes with the Sniper available: http://www.paintballgateway.com/emsnpugunpab.html
• Tom Cole thinks you should go to the Texas UWL event at Cousins Paintball in Dallas, TX. The event is going off June 2^nd and 3^rd, so get signed up!
• Engler did…things to Tippmann’s new FT-12: http://thefordreport.com/2012/05/engler-custom-paintball-guns-is-proud-to-announce-the-release-of-its-newest-design-tippmann-ft-12-with-folding-stock/
• Registration for the Chicago NPPL ends today…might want to get registered or Frank’s going to beat me up. Again.
• PSP affiliate league AXBL announced the winners from their most recent event.
• Coming up on the 27^th, NPPL affiliate league Pev’s will be having an event as well, and another in July.
• TechPB has a store now: http://techpb.spreadshirt.com/
• Rumor has it that Valken is gearing up for D-Day…. Potter assured me that I would have details about this year’s events very soon! I’ve dispatched Terminator Class Minions to his South Florida compound to ‘have a little talk’ with him about dispersing information.
• Over on TechPB it was announced that there’s been another price drop on the Valken V-Max.
• The NPPL has lowered entry fees for their Pump Division.
• RAP4 rolls out the MKP Jackal magazine fed paintball gun.
• They also announced that they’re going to be at Defense Services Asia 2012.
• DYE rolls out some limited edition DM12′s. Puuuuuuuuurty!
• Thanks to Billy Wing and the guys at DYE’s tech department for some information and advice this week.
• PSP Affiliate NEXL announces the winners from their most recent tournament.
• Cobie Smulders, one of the more attractive actresses in the Avengers movie recently held a private paintball party for her and some friends at Hollywood Sports in Bellflower, CA.
• No, I haven’t seen the movie yet.
• I’m happy to announce that the trip to the gun show in Valdosta this past weekend went better than expected…The Dark Child didn’t shoot the place up (much) and Ashley wasn’t forced to knife anyone, and I came away with a great deal on a Rock Island Arms CS! I call that a win-win!

April may have brought showers, but it’s May now and the flowers are blooming…and getting covered in paint!

This month Dale takes on the R7/Replay gun camera system and the Deadlywind Null barrel, all while running for his life from Zombies!  Potter checks in with Valken Corner, Ashley chimes in as well, and Ace Reporter Seth “Big Boss” Manchester takes a look at Acid Tactical and interviews Sarge Morin!

TB Wright checks in this month, along with new writer Neil Chittendon talking about teams and playing in the summer heat.  All this and more at http://www.shootinghotmagazine.com !

Everything found here was either directly observed by the staff, sent in by members of The Ford Report Mailing list, or quoted by anonymous Ford Report Minions. Keep in mind at all times… The Ford Report is for entertainment purposes only! Some of the things posted here may not be completely accurate. These posts may directly correlate to yourself, your team, or company. Use the link in this email to unsubscribe from The Ford Report if you find yourself offended by it. If you’re seeing it on the site, then feel free to click that little red ‘X’ and move on with your day.

• The Machine Paintball Vapor demo went very well last weekend at Carnage Paintball in Woodstock, GA. Ashley and I took away a lot of data from the trip, and everyone who saw and held the gun fell in love with it!
• And it turns out that Ledbetter is a fan of Scentsy!
• There’s fighting in Hawaii: “Dale Check out Epower’s night game being held at HEP. Event is on 5/4/12 from 5pm-10pm sign up at Epower Phone 808-848-5126. Spots are limited here is the FB link: http://www.facebook.com/events/310819058986320/ “
• Meanwhile closer to home, LCP Scenarios’ “Georgia” Joe Hamilton dropped in with this: “I sit here tonight working on the Game with a Renewed sense of how amazing our sport is. After numerous phone calls and coordination between the two Generals, they have agreed on a rather unusual way to add to the game. They asked that I allow them the head shot kill rule for Generals. On first thought I believed them to be insane. After further consideration I think it should be a challenge to take out the General. I mean, the General is the most important player on the field for both sides. So I wish to announce that what they want is what they get. As a further note I must say that things are coming along well. I visited Big Indian last Sunday and finalized the details for setting up the Game. I was assured all preparations will be complete in time for the date of the battle that is to come. Upon further inspection of the field I believe that this is going to be a fun game for all.” Head over to http://www.lcpscenariogames.com to get signed up!
• Registration for the #3 RPL event ends on the 8^th. Might want to get signed up if you’re going!
• Valken’s Greg Muller dropped in in his Ninja suit to let me know that Valken has opened another distribution center, this time in the Northwest: http://thefordreport.com/2012/05/valken-expands-distribution-newest-distribution-hub-in-portland-or/
• I got an unexpected call from Empire’s Jason Kreisman wanting to get my new address so that he could send along a new Empire Vidar mask for me to take a look at. For 50 bucks retail, it seems like a win-win: http://empirepaintball.com/empire-vidar-goggle-system
• Meanwhile, Bussler is in love…with the new Crossover from Tippmann. He’s sharing the love by sending along a review piece for me to look at. When told of this, OP4′s Mike Castleman immediately started giggling like the proverbial Japanese Schoolgirl.
• Speaking of Mike, his wife has compared my body hair to bubble wrap. I’m flabbergasted. Struck speechless, even!
• RPL Event #2 photos can be seen here: http://fxfphotos.com/rpl.htm
• As far as Andrew and Mike Spurlock are concerned, I’m now reduced to being tool boy for my wife.
• Which is fine, because my wife isn’t allowed to do anything to her new backup, a purple and black Ego 11.
• Sonny Lopez is doing a couple of clinics in the near future: “One is this Friday at Supergame 43. I am doing the clinic with Kat Secor from Team Destiny. We also have made the clinic Free for all the ladies who are registered to the Supergame! Guys got to pay $35 and email Dan Bonebrake to get on the list. dan@supergame.tv On June 23rd I will be doing a clinic at Canadian Carnage. This is the first time I am doing a clinic in the Cold land of Canada!!!! Very excited! This will be an epic event with Wolf and Mike from TechPB getting a massive paint fight on!
• Rob from Ninja Paintball and I swapped a few emails this week…he was extremely helpful.
• The Maltese Militia are staying busy: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/the-maltese-militia-paintball-team-has-given-away-the-first-prize-package-of-the-2012-season/
• The NPPL has 36 spots left open for their Chicago event…time’s a wastin’!
• ProPaintball.Com is theorizing on a new loader from G.I. Sportz: http://propaintball.com/2012/04/new-paintball-loader-from-gi-sports/
• Canadian Minions have been mobilized to Stork’s house.
• Who turns 45 today…happy birthday Eric!
• RAP4 rolls out a new air through stock for Tippmann guns as well as a new “Quick Flip” Optic site.
• G.I. Sportz teams swept the Phoenix PSP.
• Reports coming in from people who were there noted that the (dry) heat took out a lot of players both on and off field. Having been struck with Heat Exhaustion while I was in the Army all those years ago, I can sympathize for those who had to endure that miserable experience.
• Speaking of the PSP, they’ve reached a deal with the Windgate by Wyndam to give PSP competitors a great rate on a room for the Chicago event.
• This weekend Ashley, The Dark Child and I get a bit of a rest, with only a gun show in Valdosta being on our list of things to do. However, next weekend we’ll be at Big Indian Paintball in Perry, GA to get our shoot on for the next chapter in the Zombie Apocalypse series of games, and then I believe the weekend after that we’ll be killing for John Navarro at General’s Cup in FL. Tee Hee.

• Valken’s Andy Potter and Southeast Superfield owner Billy Smith of Low Country Paintball flew out this morning for Castle…lucky!
• …except that their flights were at uncivilized hours…
• Join the family: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/join-the-machine-family/
• If you’re in Florida next month, hit up Rico at General’s Cup: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/2012-generals-cup-pre-game-video/
• Ace writer Seth “Big Boss” Manchester is now doing video: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/shooting-hot-tv-pilot/
• Over in the UK Support for Soldiers raised a lot of money for UK servicemen and women in need: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/support-for-soldiers-raises-11500-us-for-uk-service-members/
• The first event in the Vicious series is coming soon, at Mad Cow Paintball in Cedar Creek, NE.
• “Mad Cow Paintball”?
• The NPPL has released the field layout for their upcoming Chicago event.
• Meanwhile, Critical Paintball’s pro team has a new jersey!
• Pev’s is getting ready to celebrate their 20^th anniversary.
• Minor League Paintball becomes a PSP Affiliate league.
• E-Money has lost his mind, offering up 1^st run PEG paintballs at $6/case! Call him up at 1-866-999-MONEY before he regains his senses.
• Echo1 Airsoft is coming to Alternative Sports.
• Tim Barnett of Shoreline Paintball in the UK drop by with this tidbit: “GI Sportz Battle of Britain game run by Shoreline is next weekend. Its already officially the UK’s biggest ever brand new event.”
• Tom over at Catshack Reports let it be known that Les Stroud of “Survivorman” fame will be attending this year’s D-Day Event in Oklahoma. Turns out Les is an avid paintballer! He’ll be rolling with the Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces.
• Tampa Bay Damage won the Galveston PSP, which had to be postponed until the beginning of Phoenix.
• The D-League has revised the field layout for their next event.
• Meanwhile, Houston Heat wins the Pro Division at Phoenix PSP.
• Kriesman dropped by to let me know that teams using Empire gear and RPS paint dominated the divisional brackets.
• Which means that teams using GI Sportz dominated everywhere else.
• I understand that the phrase “But it’s a dry heat!” got old real quick for players and vendors alike at the Phoenix event….
• The D-League out in Cali will now have a new Open division.
• I was messing around on Facebook this morning and I was teasing about writing another “Deadliest Paintball Warrior” piece for Shooting Hot Magazine, and trying to figure out who I’d pit against each other….somehow it turned into a challenge to a Mercy Match against my wife. I guess Ledbetter’s Carnage Paintball is going to live up to its’ name after all…
• I got an email from ProPaintball.com noting that Air America Weapons Systems would be making a return, but the story has since been pulled. Minions are en-route.

• My friend Jen is walking in the Susan B. Komen event coming to the Tampa Bay area: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=6542623&pg=personal&fr_id=1770&et=5O1XGNWxOZsl–2Jb8VybQ&s_tafId=478293

• Joey from BuyPBL.com let me know that the final installment of the PALS Thailand “Where Paintball Takes Us” episode is out: http://youtu.be/0y5-Qv-A9Z0
• The Apocalypse is coming to Big Indian Paintball: http://lcpscenariogames.com/registration/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=29
• And now, to start packing up for the weekend…. Have a great weekend everyone!

• PSP Phoenix is going on. How’s the weather out there?
• The Machine Paintball Vapor made its’ Georgia debut last week at Low Country Paintball in Ludowici, GA. Zombies and Humans alike made a point to come by and check it out!
• …including Valken Paintball’s Andy Potter, who announced this week that he and his wife Heather are expecting. Congrats Andy and Heather!
• As for the game itself, think of a 5 hour long final battle. It was brutal, and everyone there was loving every minute of it.
• I got an email from a friend down in Tampa today asking if the deal Valken is offering for first time players at Oklahoma D-Day is for real…Potter took time from rocking out to send this response: “Yes it is absolutely true that Valken Corps members that have never been to D-Day are eligible to receive free entries. Tell him to email jrddaypromotor@yahoo.com to get set up! Thanks Dale.”
• As I have ex-wives in Oklahoma still, I’ll pass on D-Day this year. Let sleeping dogs lie, as it were.
• The NPPL has announced a “Young Gun” division for Chicago and the DC Challenge.
• Enola Gay is coming to the US: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/enola-gay-coming-to-the-us/
• Ace Shooting Hot Magazine reporter Seth Manchester has been busy in his man-cave putting things together…and he reports that he’s got a working prototype. More news as it becomes available.
• If you follow Tiberius Arms’ Waverly Muller on Facebook, you may notice something interesting in a recent picture she posted.
• Whoever created the Doritos Locos taco is a national treasure. Just sayin’.
• Mike over at Markerbids.com has some killer stuff coming online soon…including a Tampa Bay Damage DM12: http://markerbids.com/item.php?id=3522
• As a service to my brethren in the paintball media, I’ve updated the 2 year old story giving everyone the who’s who in the Spurlock clan. Since they’re in the news again, I thought it’d be a good idea to refresh everyone’s memory: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/know-your-spurlocks/
• The NPPL has released their field layout for the Chicago event.
• Meanwhile, Mike, Andrew, Jarrett and Co. answer the question I got the most this past weekend: “How efficient is it?” : http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/machine-paintball-vapor-efficiency-testing/
• Over in England, Planet Eclipse adds a dash of color to the Etha.
• SlingPaint.Com is up to version 2.0 now.
• Over in Hawaii, the owners of a field there dropped me this line: “Hi Dale Hawaii Extreme Paintball and Airsoft has now opened it’s doors to the general public. Enjoy paintball and airsoft on its scenario field. NPPL certified turf field open to the general public. For directions and more information please go to www.hawaiiextremepaintball.com Also available for private events!”
• You know, that’d make one HELL of an “Any Given Saturday” write up for SHM…I wonder if I could get the publisher to send me over…
• Andy Van Der Platts dropped me a line to let me know that the April issue of Stars and Stripes magazine is up.
• Colin and Brady at Deadlywind have been busy, introducing a new CF foregrip for the Automag. It’s not on their site yet, but I suspect it will be soon.
• The D-League has released the field layout for their second event.
• At the request of the owner of Carnage Paintball in the Atlanta, GA area, Ashley and I will be at the field next weekend to demo the Machine Paintball Vapors.
• Joey from BuyPBL dropped in with this: “PBL Action Sports in Montreal Quebec would like to welcome Recon Paintball as the newest PBL Approved Store. At the helm this new venture is long time player, coach and paintball enthusiast Nelson Fonseca.”
• NPPL partnered up with Holiday Inns for Chicago.
• Furthermore, earlybird registration ends friday for that event…might want to get signed up!
• The Zombies overran the humans barricading themselves at LCP this past weekend, so the Apocalypse is coming to Big Indian Paintball in Perry, GA: http://lcpscenariogames.com/registration/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=29
• There’s a new ION: http://www.ansgear.com/category_s/3394.htm
• Randy over at Custom Products heard that the Vapor is an LP-only gun, so he made sure I had an LP kit for my CP Air System so I can keep winning with CP!
• For a change, neither Ashley nor I are going anywhere or doing anything this weekend…The Death Kitties are going in tomorrow to be fixed, and The Dark Child is a bit sick, so everyone’s going to be taking it easy this weekend…not sure what I’ll do with myself, but I’ll figure it out!

Everything found here was either directly observed by the staff, sent in by members of The Ford Report Mailing list, or quoted by anonymous Ford Report Minions. Keep in mind at all times… The Ford Report is for entertainment purposes only! Some of the things posted here may not be completely accurate. These posts may directly correlate to yourself, your team, or company. Use the link in this email to unsubscribe from The Ford Report if you find yourself offended by it. If you’re seeing it on the site, then feel free to click that little red ‘X’ and move on with your day.

• For the video-or-shens crowd, Machine Paintball releases video: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/machine-paintball-releases-video/
• Speaking of video, Greg Hastings’ R7 Paintball has officially released the Replay Camera: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/greg-hastings-chooses-replay-xd-to-capture-paintball-from-a-whole-new-angle/
• Valken officially announces the acquisition of Sly Equipment: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/valken-acquires-sly-equipment/
• The April issue of Shooting Hot Magazine is out, in case you didn’t get the email blast: http://www.shootinghotmagazine.com
• My wife and stepdaughter got to shoot their Machine Paintball Vapor last night. They both wet their pants. I nearly did when I shot it…smooooooooooth!
• Gino kept his checkbook out this week, buying Paintball News: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/valken-buys-paintball-news/
• You know Gino, for the right money, you could own The Ford Report….rename it to “The Gino Report”?
• Reports of me being eaten by a Zombie are grossly exaggerated: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/dale-ford-eaten-by-zombies/
• However this weekend at Low Country Paintball I’ll hopefully be playing as a Zombie, with the aim of getting Andy Potter’s brains…even though Stork says there aren’t any to be had.
• My good friend John Navarro of SoBe Paintball sent me a birthday present this week…I’m going to have the baddest-ass Rotor on the planet…once I find some double-sided tape.
• Registration opened for the next NPPL, to be held at CPX in may.
• This weekend out in SoCal, Giant Paintball’s Hollywood Sports is hosting a Rock ‘n Run event this weekend. Get your run and beer on!
• Empire Paintball stepped up to responsor Chicago Legend for 2012.
• Tim Barnett reminds us why we play paintball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-UnGtTxihQ
• I thought it was for the hot women…I mean, Suzy is stupidly hot, and my wife is a total biscuit…
• BuyPBL strikes a partnership with GoPro Cameras.
• In Florida, Sexy Rexy at Old River Paintball announced this week that Old River’s September game will be called “Shadow Wars: The Dragon’s Gambit” set to go off September 1^st and 2^nd at the legendary Florida field.
• If you’re wanting to get some FL paintball action a bit sooner, I’d suggest signing up for General’s Cup at Gator Paintball (known to locals as ‘Gatorball’) in May. I’d really suggest signing up for the “south” side, as it’s being commanded by SoBe Paintball’s John Navarro. Take a wild guess who I’ll be killing for…
• Back in Canada, Recon Paintball becomes the newest PBL-approved store, serving the Kitchener Ontario area.
• In Vegas May 6^th, LVPP is having a D3/D4 3 man tourney.
• Registration for the 2^nd RPL event of the year ends tomorrow….might want to get signed up: http://www.therpl.com
• Been interesting to me how many women are inquiring about the Machine Paintball Vapor…and they’re not asking me, they’re asking Ashley!
• If you’re playing PSP Phoenix and you’re wearing head-to-toe Empire gear and you place 3^rd or better, you’ll be shooting Evil for free!
• Gio and Co. out in SoCal are keeping busy this year…over 150 paintball events at Giant Paintball this year!
• The guys over at DYE tell me that you can watch PSP Phoenix for free here: http://www.paintballaccess.com/
• RAP 4 rolls out the MKP Enigma magazine fed paintball gun.
• Which has ace Shooting Hot Magazine writer/photographer/videographer Seth Manchester giggling like a little girl.
• Did I say videographer? Ooops….
• Somehow I ended up being everyone’s Gun Bitch this week…I finished up my friend Steve’s Timmy, ripped Ashley and I’s Vapors apart and started figuring them out, and once I’m done here I’m going to do batteries in my hoppers, finish tweaking out “Georgia” Joe Hamilton’s Ego 6, clean and lube up my Ego 11, all while avoiding getting bunkered by The Dark Child and her feline minions. And I gotta find some double-sided tape….

• I’m now a part of The Machine: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/machine-paintball-and-the-ford-report-team-up/
• The Machine and I will be after Valken’s Andy Potter for BBBrrrrrrrRRaaaaaAAiiiinnns next weekend at LCP. Kill or Be Eaten over at http://www.lcpscenariogames.com
• NJ Minions report that Greg Hastings is up to something…we’ll know more tomorrow.
• ProPaintball.Com and Minions from around the world are reporting that Valken has either bought or is in the latter stages of buying Sly Equipment.
• Bussler dropped by to let me know that Tippmann is expanding their support of events: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/tippmann-expands-its-support-of-paintball-games-and-events-worldwide/
• Right after Mike dropped the good news that he was going to come on as an advertiser in addition to the ongoing assistance on the development and marketing side, he sent me a very rough video of the Vapor shooting. F*&%*ing RAILGUN!
• No, the video isn’t for public consumption…I think Mike or Jimmy shot it on their camera…but rest assured video is coming!
• Blue dropped by, without kicking any doors in: “CASTLE CONQUEST XXXIII at EMR Paintball Park Preregistration ends next week on 4/13/12 so get yours in and join the hundreds of other players that have saved $120 on the registration. Go to http://www.emrpaintball.com/conquest.shtml to check out all the details for this PURE PAINTBALL INSANITY and to see what teams have already signed up for this Epic game on April 28th.”
• I also understand that LCP’s Billy Smith will be on hand with a DJ set up…
• RAP4 is supporting “The Hurt Locker”: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/rap4-to-sponsor-the-hurt-locker-next-weekend/
• Meanwhile over in the UK, GI Sportz brings the printed ball to YPC for the “Battle of Britain”: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/gi-sportz-delivers-the-uks-first-event-printed-ball/
• The RPL has announced the field layout for event #2.
• XSV won HB.
• Someone was allegedly naughty at HB, too.
• George Schaffer dropped in: “Delta Paintball Productions and OXCC present : Gangland A House Divided May 19th 2012 at OXCC in Chesapeake City, Md.
• Pre-registration is open until My 16th at midnight and it will save you $10 off registration and $10 off the best damn paint in the industry, Valken Redemption .”
• Ninja Paintball went Silver with the PSP.
• The 2012 PSP rankings and stats are going to apply to all of the affiliate leagues as well, which is pretty cool!
• Kreisman made sure to remind me that XSV won using the Empire Axe.
• Sonny Lopez came at me with this: “LA Hitmen won the veteran division of the 1st BRPL Blitz Regional Pump League 2012 event held at SC Village! The BNI Rookies won the rookie division. BRPL is a 4 man Race2 Pump series with no sideline coaching allowed. This year the league has both veteran and rookie team divisions. Played on tiny sized fields similar to the Spyder Cup fields of years past. Check the league out at http://blitzrpl.com/ “
• Then since he was here petting the Death Kitties, he hit me with this: “Here is a YouTube video of the newly released SAR12 by Carmatech Engineering. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QixHVAuFq-s A dedicated sniper rifle with 2 patents making it two guns for the price of one. Bolt action to semi auto in under a minute without tools check out more info at www.sar12.com “
• If you’re going to head over to Fort Knox this weekend, give Mike the coupon so you can get half off field fee.
• Speaking of Fort Knox, John Navarro of the South Beach Pimps fell in love with the field. I really need to get out more…
• After making sure that I knew his favorite AXEmen won HB, Kreisman let it be known that Empire re-upped as a presenting sponsor of the NCPA National Championships.
• I thought I heard Raehl giggling…
• Giant Sports wants to give your field a makeover: http://thefordreport.com/2012/04/giant-sportz-field-makeover-contest/
• This weekend the wife and I are going to split our time getting the house organized and getting ready for LCP’s “Humans vs. Zombies” next weekend. We should be bringing two brand new guns (#4 and #5 Vapors in the US) to the fray, as well as our current gear. If the Vapor is as light as I think it’s going to be, I’m really interested to see how adding a Deadlywind Null barrel to the mix works out…

R7 USA, a premier paintball gear design and manufacturing company, founded by 25 year paintball pro Greg Hastings, announced today they have teamed up with RePlay XD, the HD action sports camera manufacturer, to create the perfect system for paintball combatants to record all the fun action in HD. Three years in development, Greg Hastings has filed for patents on this critical mounting devise that marries the RePlay XD 1080 to ANY paintball marker in the world. Combining this universal R7 paintball mount with RePlay XD’s fully capable HD camera, yet incredibly small in size, this dynamic duo have truly produced the absolute best way to shoot paintball action videos in Tournaments, Big Games, Scenario Games, Team Practices and Rec. Ball play.

After years of paintball recording for the purpose of teaching video game developers how best to make first person shooting paintball video games, Greg discovered and created a product that easily mounts to any gun with a common clamping feed-neck. Greg tested every available camera that was small enough to mount on his paintball gun. Then, after years of HD research, Greg discovered the best camera for paintball. The RePlay XD 1080 camera System! “Its small size, ease of operation, rugged aluminum construction, reliability, and its recording capabilities, make this the best camera for paintball, and everything else action for that matter” said Hastings. He goes on to say, “We were able to design many ways to mount the RePlay XD for paintball recording just because of its small size. Players can choose to either mount it on our special R7/Stiffi Carbon Fiber barrel, or cleverly on their feed-neck, utilizing our patented R7 aluminum system, or attach one to your goggles with included mounts. I use them on all three spots.”

Replay XD president John Spar stated, “The team at RePlay XD is excited and proud to be part of the Greg Hastings R7 USA product line. We have been extremely impressed with the attention to detail that Greg and his team put into everything they do. Their excitement and dedication to their industry is infectious and they all have all the same values & obsessions in building great products as we do here at RePlay XD”.
Watch all R7 Athletes’ HD videos recorded by Justin Rabackoff, Nicky Cuba, Thomas Taylor, and Greg Hastings, on their own Social Paintball channels! www.SocialPaintball.com/R7Athlete. Blue and Deuce Hanse, along with their team Blue’s Crew, will have HD Scenario/Big Game footage available on www.BluesCrewTV.com.
R7 Replay XD 1080 Paintball System is available ONLY at www.R7usa.com/RePlay for $329.95. Fields who would like to acquire this R7 RePlay XD System for marketing purposes, can contact Mike “Blue” Hanse. Blue@BluesCrewTV.com

About R7 and Greg Hastings During Greg Hastings’ 25-year paintball career, he has invented many paintball products that have changed the sport of paintball. Greg is best known as the inventor of the Comfort Pack System, which introduced the concept of the adjustable multi elastic belt system, now common on ALL paintball pod-carrying systems today. Greg’s innovation was the unique mating of a common, hardware store type back support belt to a series of pod holding pouches. This product not only secured the future financing Greg would need to train and compete at higher levels, but it changed this gear genre forever. R7 is Greg’s brand. “R” is for Red, his nickname, and “7”, the number he has used in competition for years. Here is where you will find products, designed, tested, and manufactured by Greg personally, including the R7 RePlay HD Paintball System.
www.R7usa.com, www.GregRedHastings.com, www.Facebook.com/NJNinja

About RePlay XD
RePlay XD, was designed by a group of racing professionals with over 50 years of experience in the high performance racing industry. The development team saw the need for ultra-lightweight cameras that could capture never before seen video footage from the most extreme racing and action environments. The systems needed to have unparalleled features delivering the users unparalleled benefits. The RePlay XD systems come complete with everything you need to start shooting right out of the box. RePlay XD packs almost $90.00 of additional components in every system. 4GB micro SD card, SD card adapter, USB SD card reader, USB charge cable with wall charger adaptor, car charger adaptor, HDMI cable, ballistic carrying bag and two style standard mount options. These valuable extras making it the best value in the industry. The Replay XD has been put through the most grueling conditions possible and has come out unscathed with crystal clear footage. RePlay XD’s goal is to bring you the most technologically advanced recording systems available today. http://www.replayxd.com
Hot Rod Magazine’s Action Camera Shootout WINNER! http://www.youtube.com

• With tongue planted firmly in cheek, an open letter to the NPPL: http://thefordreport.com/2012/03/open-letter-to-the-nppl/
• The menace is moving! http://thefordreport.com/2012/03/the-menace-is-moving/
• Which was followed by a panicked phone call from LCP’s Billy Smith. In between sobs, he managed to relay to me that he thought his wife Paula was turning into a Zombie…apparently he walked into the kitchen at the house and saw her moaning and eating what looked like brains. I urged him to calm down and take a second look before blowing her head off. Turns out she was eating jello…really good jello apparently, hence the moaning. http://www.lcpscenariogames.com/ to get signed up for the Apocalypse.
• Meanwhile, pretty much everyone who’s anyone (except me) is either on the way to or already at Huntington Beach for the NPPL season opener. Excuse me while I go pout.
• Meanwhile, Greg Hastings is going to the Hurt Locker: http://thefordreport.com/2012/03/the-hurt-locker/
• Valken announces that they’ve agreed to sponsor team New England Avalanche for the 2012 season. I hear that Frank actually giggled. I don’t know about you, but I’d pay money (but not much) to hear a Frank Connell giggle.
• SoBe Paintball’s John Navarro dropped by with this: “If you plan to attend Generals Cup in Florida, and are planning or willing to commit to play for the SOUTH SIDE/ John Navarro of South Beach PIMPS is the General, you need to email him, john@sobepaintball.com “
• Since the PSP Galveston event was pretty much rained out, and Phoenix is just around the corner, PSP has announced that they’re using the Galveston field layouts for PSP Phoenix.
• Chuck Hendsch made a rare appearance in South Georgia to lay this tidbit on me: “The NPPL, Sapporo, and Loyal Dean Long Boards will be raffling 4 Long boards for the Bob Gurnsey Paintball Scholarship. Purchase your raffle tickets for $1 at the NPPL Registration booth. Drawing will be held for 2 of the Long boards at the NPPL Players Party at Endless Food & Fun and the other 2 Long boards will be announced Sunday during the finals.”
• Who’s Bob? http://paintballscholarships.com/?utm_source=BOB+GURNSEY+PAINTBALL+SCHOLARSHIP+RAFFEL+&utm_campaign=scholarship&utm_medium=email
• Fighting Five-Oh and Empire Battle Tested team up for 2012: http://thefordreport.com/2012/03/fighting-five-oh-paintball-team-signs-sponsorship-agreement-with-empire-battle-tested-paintball-for-2012/
• Taitano made sure I knew that Dynasty finished 2^nd at the Millenium Riviera event over in France.
• Rabackoff dropped in to let me know that Art Chaos and Ton Tons had earned congrats too: http://thefordreport.com/2012/03/g-i-sportz-congratulates-riviera-millenium-winners/
• The Sun Shines on Empire Paintball Fans, in the latest video in Empire’s Video Vault: http://empirepaintball.com/empire-paintball-video-channel-vault/
• The PSP has a statistical manifesto: http://paintballaccess.com/statistical-manifesto-where-we-now-stand-at-our-beginning-bear-with-us-and-be-with-us/
• In New England, Joel Vail thought this was important for those out there wanting to find vintage goodness: “I wanted to see if you could do a piece on Titus Celani’s website – www.tituspb.com. He is a small business owner – paintball distributor and as we all know, small business is the backbone of the industry. He handled most his business on forums and local to New England. He finally got his website up and running and offers a unique selection of new and used/vintage gear. He strives to offer the best paint and stands behind his products. He even buys from places that are going out of business and offers the savings to his customers. An uncountable number of players started because he took the time to find them gear they could afford and they hit the ground running. He also only sells American made products to support our economy. His direct email is p_celani@hotmail.com .”
• Tom Cole told me to go to Utah for the next UWL event April 28th-29^th.
• I like first class…first on, first off…can’t beat it!
• A2 joins the list of PBL Approved stores in Canada.
• The NPPL and Fluid have teamed up for HB. Fluid is a sports drink mix that helps your muscles as well as the rest of your body recover after working out. I’ve used it in the past…great stuff!
• Andy Van Der Platts let me know that the newest Stars and Stripes is out: http://tinyurl.com/cl9mron
• John Navarro of The South Beach Pimps dropped in again with another tidbit: “Pimps are attending FortKnox paintball in Indiana. Playing the Greed game, representing PE, and shooting Valken Grafitti.. Go Green side or go home!”
• Photos from the D-League’s last event are available now: http://fxfphotos.com/dleague1201.htm
• If you’re in Cali for HB, head on up to Paintball Gateway’s warehouse in Gardena for their doorbuster sales.
• RAP4 is going to be busy this summer: http://www.rap4.com/rap4-summer-2012-a-424.html
• The PSP reminds us that the NEXL is their NE affiliate league.
• Raider Magazine in the UK (www.raider-mag.com) took at look at S-Thunder’s goodies and came away impressed.
• LCP’s Billy Smith, much calmer this time, had this to pass on: “I’ve been getting questions about registration for the Zombie vs Humans game on April 14th. The Billy lost his mind registration deal that includes two cases of paint, air and registration for $100 is for online pre-registration only. That deal will not be available on game day. game day reg will be $40, paint will be $50 per case, air will be $10. See ya there!!!!!! to register go to www.lcpscenariogames.com “
• This coming weekend is my birthday. Seems like the older I get the less I care about my advancing age (I’ll be 42). My wife insists that I’m not old, and Lord knows I don’t act my age, so who cares? This weekend I’ll spend time with OP4′s Mike Castleman working on my old Dodge Ramcharger, chasing the wife around the house, and generally making a pig of myself eating whatever the hell it is I want to eat!

This past weekend at Huntington Beach, the playing public got to see the Machine Paintball Vapor in person for the first time, and the response has been amazing!  Long time friends Mike Spurlock and Dale Ford are once again teaming up, this time as part of the Machine.  Ford was initially hired as a consultant to assist in the development of the company’s initial offering, the Vapor,  a high end tournament gun for top players at the top of their game.   Following the release of the Vapor, follow-on guns and gear for tournament, scenario, and woodsball players will be coming in the weeks and months ahead.

Regarding the advertising agreement, Mike Spurlock had this to say:  “Dale and I have been friends for a long time, and we’d worked together in the past, so when I decided to bring the Vapor’s design to life he was one of the first people I contacted to help me with the initial design and marketing of the gun.   Now that the Vapor is here, it made perfect sense to further deepen our business relationship to include advertising with The Ford Report.  His experience and expertise in fairly reporting news and keeping tabs on the industry will serve The Machine well!”

Machine Paintball’s website is live now, so head on over to http://www.machinepaintball.com to look at the Vapor and sign up for updates from The Machine!  To talk directly to the crew at Machine, hit them up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MachinePaintball