A logistical dilemma caused by the convergence of the last rehearsal before our 25th Birthday gig and the London Marathon means that I am spending tonight in a Premier Inn in Woking.
However, every cloud has a silver lining, so this seemed like a good opportunity to spend the afternoon at Driver Wood, a site about which I have heard and read a lot but have never visited.
So, this morning, in addition to my video mixer, projector, video loops etc, I loaded my airsoft gear into the car, including the lad's C7, which I had done some work on last Saturday evening as it seemed to have lost power.
Arriving at Driver Wood was a bit of a culture shock; there were paintballers, kids' parties, airsoft beginners' sessions and about 60 airsofters. This actually seemed like a proper business!
Checking in was straightforward; I got my wristband and I was in. I found a table, chatted to the players on the next table, one of whom admired the C7, and chrono'd the C7 (1.04J and great range). The safezone was well organised, clean and had WiFi! The only negative aspect was a number of signs stating that no food or drink could be brought in.
I then sorted my own stuff out, remembering to ensure that barrel socks were in use in the safezone, chrono'd my rifle and pistol, and set off for balancing of teams, distribution of us afternoon arrivals to teams and a mercifully short but complete safety and rules brief.
Immediately after this, we set out for the game zone, passing various areas full of kids having great fun shooting paint and BBs at each other.
The first game of the afternoon involved collecting a downed pilot, getting them on to a stretcher and transporting them to one of the helicopters. Each side had a stretcher and, if the two players carrying it were killed, they had to drop it; the opposing team could then try to prevent them recovering it but could not steal it. However, if the pilot was on it, they could transfer him to their stretcher if it could be brought alongside.
I teamed up with a few players who decided to try to work around into the enemy's left flank and rear; this went rather well until we encountered an enemy force who had decided to try to work around into our right flank and rear. This resulted in some great fights; I found a spot in a ditch under a bush from where I could control the convergence of two paths that the enemy were using; it was what WW2 U-Boat crews called a Happy Time; a target rich environment and a hidden Colin with a very accurate rifle.
Ultimately, as for the U-Boat crews, the Happy Time ended and I was sunk. Regenning, I encountered the two chaps from the table next to mine and we fought our own little war against a group of enemy who were continuing to try to push into our team's tactical rear, holding them off until the end of the game, which our side won, getting the stretcher and pilot into the helicopter after a stand off. Hurrah!
After a short break, we started the second game of the afternoon; a three point domination. The targets were the green tent, the six wheeler and one of the helicopters; whoever controlled each of them at every 10 minute interval got a point . I have no idea what happened at the six wheeler or the helicopter, as I was solely involved around the green tent, which the enemy grabbed at the start of the game. This was a really good action, with people flanking all over the place, hiding in bushes, and generally popping up where they were least expected. Despite us pushing hard, the enemy held the green tent for most of the game, with us only capturing it for the very last point.
My first impressions of Driver Wood are positive, despite the signs about not bringing your own food and drink. The playing area reminded me somewhat of Battle Lakes, albeit without that site's bottlenecks and choke points.
I will definitely be going back.
After the game, I stopped off at Surplus Store UK in Crawley, with the possible intention of buying a JG T3 SAS. However, the size, or rather the lack of size, of its battery compartment, put me off.
Armband watch: Bright green (I thought they were yellow!) and purple.
Weapons used:
SRC T-91
ASG Commander XP18 (CO2)
