Cromwell man Bill Godsall has been the "face'' of Sport Central as its regional co-ordinator for more than 14 years. He walks the walk as well as talking the talk, competing in various sports for more than 40 years, including multisport and adventure racing.
Q Why do you do what you do?
A I really enjoy the outdoors, so doing kayaking, cycling and the odd adventure race/rogaine is often the best way to combine that with the pleasure I get from challenges.
Competition now doesn't motivate me and this has made taking part in events so much more pleasurable.
I don't have to explain my passion to others much nowadays as so many people are out there enjoying the same passion anyway.
Q What is your earliest memory?
A Living in a small village playing games outside after dark with my brothers and sisters (nine of them) and our fellow village kids, (one who became my partner and still is, 40-plus years on.)
They were simple games which we played often so we didn't have to go home to bed.
Q What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A I always wanted to be a Formula 1 car driver. I have always loved fast cars, especially race cars.
I attend at least one classic car race per year and still get goose bumps when I hear, smell, see the early F5000 cars, which are so scary to watch.
My influences were the likes of Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Chris Amon, who were world-class.
Bruce McLaren would be one of my choices for best New Zealander ever because he built cars, raced cars and designed them - amazing that an F1 team still bears his name.
The "want'' to become a race car driver waned when it became apparent it costs more than I earn.
But I did race motorcycles for a while, which was fun but I didn't have the resources to be very good at it.
Q What is your most embarrassing moment?
A I think it was criticising someone by email and cc-ing them into it by mistake; the object of my criticism then came back to bite me.
I learnt a very valuable lesson at that moment about writing anything you don't ever want seen on any device, or social media.
I have also, I guess, had a few foot-in-mouth moments because I think others, like myself, let things pass over their head without taking issue.
It's a horrible feeling knowing you can't take it back!
Q Property aside, what's the most extravagant thing you've bought?
A I haven't bought anything extravagant, really, but I have a bad habit of trying to buy old cars without my wife knowing.
I have been sprung more than once.
Last time was two years ago after stashing an old race car, which was in bad repair, at my friend's lifestyle block, thinking she would never find it.
But, yes, someone then asked her if she liked my new "old race car''.
This brought the usual response, plus she has now introduced a "one-in, one-out'' policy on old cars.
In her defence, she did rebuild my old 1971 Vauxhall Victor as a surprise for my 50th birthday.
I still have the race car but it is slowly sinking below the undergrowth.
I do like its shape and the engineering on it is very clever so one day I will rebuild it.
Q Who would play you in the film of your life?
A I think Bear Grylls. I like to think I could survive if stuck in the wilds and I do love adventures, but it doesn't really matter as long as it's not one of those Kardashians.
Q What is your guiltiest pleasure?
A If it's pleasurable, it can't be guilty in my world.
Q What would be your dream job?
A I would love to have a job taking young people on adventures, teaching them outdoor survival skills and outdoor sports where they have to push their fear limits.
It's when you pass that moment when you think you might not survive that you truly find out what matters (and it's not old cars).
I have been there a few times and it is very enlightening.
If I had a fellow adventurer to share this dream job with, it would be Jim Cotter, whom I did adventure races with many times.
We see things quite similarly and, when in sticky situations, don't have to talk to communicate how we feel or what we need to do.
In some ways, through my current job, I already do try to give young people the same adventurous lifestyle so they can enjoy the things I love.
Q Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
A Kate Moss, because she is a bit of a rebel.
Robert Plant, the lead singer from Led Zeppelin - he has had such an interesting life.
My parents, so I could perhaps say the things I didn't when I could have.
And my wife Spud, because it's dinner time when we get to talk to each other most.
Q What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A I am pretty happy with my life.
I try to squeeze in as many things as I can, so if I had more time I guess I could squeeze more things in.
What steps to make this happen?
Sleep less I reckon.
I do make a big effort to spend time with my grandkids, teaching them the skills they need to enjoy the things I love if they wish to go down that road later in their lives.
Q What keeps you awake at night?
A If I haven't achieved something I wanted to get done then it bugs me. I often want to get up then and go do it.
Q What song would you like played at your funeral?
A Stairway to Heaven, for no specific reason other than it's a classic I could listen to all day.
