early paintball trivia

[thegrayghost]

i was wondering if anyone on this Forum knows any history, or people attached, or a website to go to about a now "defunct International Paintball Players Association"...this Organization made decisions on safety, goggles, 300 fps speed, etc, which we now use today...

i met a man here, where i live, in Cleveland, Ohio, named Mr. Paul Spooner (now deceased)...owner of Cleveland Paintball...he had a wealth of information on the (IPPA), how they experimented with everything to making the earlier markers faster, machining tricks of the trade, etc...to playing with welding goggles, to wearing anything to protect their eyes...and starting the safe chrono speed of 300, which we use today...he had a bunch of stories to Durty Dan in Canada, to the owner of Draxxus, which he threw off the paintball field because he would not conform to the game...in the early days these guys were the ones who were the pioneers of the game...they played together, experimented together, and had a commradery to this great sport of paintball which we have today...

Mr. Spooner showed me markers he modified, to masks he modified, and the stories of this sport in its infancy were great...

what i would like to know is, who made up this International Paintball Players Association...are their others who could share stories for all, the old timers who were the forefathers of this great sport?

Mr. Spooner was a Viet Nam Vet, and victim of the foliante "Agent Orange".......may he rest in peace...we shared many stories....paintball & Viet Nam...

thegrayghost

[Lenny]

I have a few articles and advertisements from/about the IPPA. I'll scan them in later.

SPACE RESERVED

[Rudz]

i love going to the gramps and grizzlies shop here by my house, its great to listen to gramps talk about guys like tom kaye and tippman like there old buddies, talking about how him and tippman used to sit for hours and talk..its cool to sit there and listen to gramps..and boy does that man have some stories..btw gramps and grizzlies is in Riverside, CA

[behemoth]

Gray Ghost, You still play? It'd be grand if you'd come out with us once or twice. Give us a lesson on what it used to be.

Feel free to drop me a PM, or email regarding the subject.

-Josh

[DaFin]

I can tell you a little about the IPPA but the real person that you want to run down if you want to know is Jessica Sparks. I've not spoken with her for 15 years but she posts on an "ask the expert" forum I ran across on the web. Jessica was on the board of directors for the IPPA, I think it's legal counsel, editor for Paintball magazine and writer for APG as well. Pretty much here since the start.

Aother person that might be interesting to talk to would be Ron Kilbourne, long time captain of the Bushwackers. Just buy him a beer but don't gamble against him...

[Lenny]

I can tell you a little about the IPPA but the real person that you want to run down if you want to know is Jessica Sparks. I've not spoken with her for 15 years but she posts on an "ask the expert" forum I ran across on the web. Jessica was on the board of directors for the IPPA, I think it's legal counsel, editor for Paintball magazine and writer for APG as well. Pretty much here since the start.

Aother person that might be interesting to talk to would be Ron Kilbourne, long time captain of the Bushwackers. Just buy him a beer but don't gamble against him...

Like the MCB "Ask the Experts" forum?

[DaFin]

While I frequent MCB I am not familiar with thier experts.

I googled her and got this URL http://experts.about.com/q/Paintball...xExp_51791.htm

[hmudd13]

Jessica Sparks is definately at APG. I sent a letter to them inquiring about old magazines and if they had any.
She was the one that responded.

[50 cal]

Met Jessica Sparks at a few of the Lively Masters in Nashville. Always a pleasure to talk to her.

[Raven001]

I can tell you a little about the IPPA but the real person that you want to run down if you want to know is Jessica Sparks. I've not spoken with her for 15 years but she posts on an "ask the expert" forum I ran across on the web. Jessica was on the board of directors for the IPPA, I think it's legal counsel, editor for Paintball magazine and writer for APG as well. Pretty much here since the start.

Aother person that might be interesting to talk to would be Ron Kilbourne, long time captain of the Bushwackers. Just buy him a beer but don't gamble against him...

http://www.ihateronkilbourne.com/

[thegrayghost]

thankx guys for info...i e-mailed jessica sparks and did not get a response yet...

[Pickle]

Jessica Sparks is definitely at APG. Ran into her at D-Day this year and shared a story or two about the War Zone back in the day.

[DaFin]

War Zone off of Indian truck trial and the 15?

[Skeeter]

Jessica Sparks is definitely at APG. Ran into her at D-Day this year and shared a story or two about the War Zone back in the day.

She was the head of the IPPA for the last two years, IIRC. Great girl. Very articulate, but sometimes a little flirty.

She is a "plank owner", and was part of the organization from the start to the finish. Glad I was a member for the few years it was alive. Jessica was one of the first people from our grass-roots sport to organize a program to overcome some of the roadblocks that communities would build, to prevent the start of organized paintball fields. We ALL owe her more than most of us will ever know. If you ever get the chance to meet her, tell her thanks "for everything, from all of us...". There are still plenty of old school players in the sport that remember how much of a positive impact she had. Not sure if she hears it much any more. If not, she deserves to...

[Pickle]

War Zone off of Indian truck trial and the 15?

That be the one!

I was a member of the IPPA for a while. Had the patch and everything. Lost the patch when I lost the jacket though.