Hello Sparkydave and thx for joining this little Interview.
hi ho

Ok, here is the first (and easiest) question: What is your real name, when were you born, where are you living and how old are you?
My name is David Pope, I was born in Ashford Kent UK and still live here in the town (about 40 metres from where I was born).
I was born 21 July 1971, makes me 34 next Birthday.

Please describe yourself with at least 5 sentences!

I am male, 6 foot tall (1.85cm) with dark long hair, have a cheeky smile and am a skinny white Englishman.
I have been working in the electrical trade since leaving school in 1988, now I’m a director / partner in my own company.
I met my wife the year I came back from spending a year backpacking around Australia, that was 1996. We married a year later and then the kids just started to arrive. I have 2 daughters 6years and 4 years.
I spend a lot of my time working… and spending time with my children so I squeeze some LFS into the evenings. I have had a love for driving games and simulators for many years.

To stay on topic. As Shaun, Kristian an me we all started with Grand Prix by Geoff Crammond. What was your first PC game?
The first computer game that really got me hooked was indy500 on the Amiga and I think it was Need For Speed and Demolition Derby when we finally got a pc sometime in the 90's. Indy500, I remember that one because I completed the full race maybe once or twice in long nights.

And now to Live for Speed. Is there any special story why you are called Sparkydave?
Nope, I have used the nick in MM2 (Midtown Madness 2) from a bus driving team and have stuck with it for years, just naturally carried it to LFS.

Please complete the following sentence: "Since I play Live for Speed..."
... I have formed some great online friendships and found some great drivers wanting the same thing as me... good fun & close racing!
I am constantly pushing my limits as a driver when on the track and pushing my family’s limits, trying to get online races slotted in our busy family schedule.

What was your most memorable time in LFS?
Ok that was the endurance league race with the mrt5 at BL1. Vykos racing and shot off on lap 1 into lead, I got caught up the rear through 2nd chicane, spun to last and spent 35 laps or so chasing constant 30 secs or so behind vykos... Worked my way back to 2nd and started closing last 3rd of the race and was about 10 secs behind on final laps. Then vykos spun after the back straight and I passed to take the win. I was so pleased and had driven a focused and constant race.

How did you find Live for Speed, in other words: Who was the pusher?
lol, no pusher required... I heard through a friend at MM2 site... Played the demo a few times with K/B and joy pad when I wasn’t playing MM2. After I found the forum and some nice drivers I got kinda hooked.

Your favourite Live for Speed Car and why? What do you drive in your real life?
The GTI is favourite at the moment for some of the closest racing I’ve had although I do really like the MRT and the FXO of course, but I haven’t really played any S1 lately. Since the new demo is out its got to be the GTI.
In real life I drive a Renault Megane (wifes car really).
, hehe
I was thinking of getting a forester or maybe jeep or bmw x3 next year.

Please tell us something about your hobbies.
My main hobby is of course LFS, but I like to build fix o/clock PCs and anything electrical. I’ve been fascinated with how things work since I was very young and have picked up lots of experience through my years although I’m either getting very old or things are just moving faster and faster especially in the electronics field. lol
I used to be really into RC cars, planes and things too. I got really quite good (national level) with the 4wd cars.

Your favourite superhero, why?
Has to be Superman, I remember watching the films as a kid. The ability to fly alone justifies him for me and then there’s the x-ray vision.

What made you choose T7R?
Shauns (Fordman) nagging! lol
hehe
I was ready to move on for some months at MIF but was considering my options and thinking maybe going privateer. Then one evening I had a nice chat with the T7R “boss” Fordman and had a think about my options and couldn’t let a great opportunity like this pass me by.
fate? lol

Any final words for your audience?
Just for the record I do...

I love LFS "less" than I love my wife.

Thank you David for taking the time to do this “little” interview with me.

Further Driver Info