In our previous interviews and along with many people you talk to they all rate Team V as being one of the finest teams in the country and here we bring you one of the main men in the team 266 Big Alan Roskell. The 27 year old from Kendal in Cumbria is just on the back of having one of his busiest years ever which rewarded him with the 2003 points title at Barrow meaning a place on the grid for the prestigous Champion of Champions at Birmingham in November. 'It was more of a relief', commented Al on winning the points but he just wished he'd had a bit better luck in the actual race, you'll recall Al had this beautifully presented Mk1 pictured above.

The HGV driver/mechanic first got into racing in 1996 after spending many years on this side of the fence before having a go. 'That can't be that hard!' thought Al but he never actually got to race at his first meeting after chopping a finger off. They arrived at Warton and went out for a practice when the clutch went in his Sierra and when back in the pits changing the gearbox is when the accident happened. Not to be detered Al was back at the next meeting and has never looked back since.
As with the drivers interviewed previously they all have an impressive list of cars under their belt and Alans is no different. Mk1 and Mk2s of the Granada variety including a Mk2 hearse and Mk3 limo, Mk4 and Mk5 Cortinas, A60s, Jags including an XJ-S, Viva, Sierras, Ladas, Mk1 Astra, Metros, Bluebirds, Capris, Humber Sceptre, Mazda 929 estate, 280c plus the Chevy Monte Carlo that he raced at last years Firecracker that had previously seen action in the hands of 461 Singy. The Roskell stockpile at the moment includes 4/5 Jags, a P5, 16/60, Mazda 929 and a few Granadas. In Alans view the Mk2 is the best for the Overs and the Bluebird for the Unders while the Metro remains the least favourite! When commenting on what his dream car would be, another Andy Stewart built Jag would do nicely!

Looking at the tracks Al has paid a visit to and again its another impressive list, starting with Cowdenbeath, Warton, Barrow, Barford, Belle Vue, Millom, Workington, Coventry, Arena, Hednesford, Birmingham, Sheffield, Standlake, Swaffham and Kings Lynn. Theres no where specific that he would like to visit to add to the list but is always more than interested in racing anywhere he hasn't been yet. Top of the list for most favourite tracks are Belle Vue at the moment but Workington comes in at a close second, Kings Lynn being at the bottom of the list. He rates his best meeting as the one when he took a final and DD win at Belle Vue plus also winning the final at Workington was a special occasion while Icebreaker 6 and the Firecracker head the list as the biggest meetings he's took part in. Al also commented that the early Icebreakers and Firecracker were the best meetings that he most liked being apart of while it depends on what kind of a meeting and what the atmosphere is like to make a meeting.

Alan tells us that when he gave 512 Allan Woods a length of the straight shot at Warton as the biggest hit that he's given out while the hit he took off the one and only 166 Dogga at a Hednesford National Championship remains the biggest he's been on the wrong end of(although he was nearly on the end of a bigger one on the A1 the other week!!)
Moving onto which other drivers and teams he rated, he admires anyone who can get out and not moan when they're hit while all the rest of the team are high on the list. Of course Alan has won a couple of team events with the team which he'd always admired before he joined them. Al told us that he first joined them after being followed in by Simon Walker in the first Granada that he had at Warton and after getting talking to Jay Atkinson(340) and Nellie(239) he got on helping them and it went from there. Al has also seen action in Northern Steam, Warton Wreckers & Team Tonka colours and he feels the team racing aspect is just part and parcel of the sport. Al commented that he used to rate Stinkbridge but doesn't feel they are as good now as they were late 80's/early/mid 90s.
Winning the points title at Barrow remains the high point of his career so far while on the other side of the coin, having to tow Eno(310) back from Essex after last years Firecracker and also breaking down at Doncaster when the engine seized on the way back from an Icebreaker remain the lows points.

Looking ahead and Alan is planning another busy year and hoping to do as much as possible, he seems happy with the sport at the moment but agrees the sport is going to change a lot as the cars become hard to get, it'll be OK for the forseeable future but it will eventually boil down to a nudge and spin formula which will make for poor viewing and a lot of interest lost.
We ended with the usual thanks which were extended to anyone whos ever helped with building cars and the travelling etc while the biggest thanks went to everyone involved with the team.

I'd personnally like to thank Al very much for taking part in the interview. A top talent and one of the best drivers in the north, look out for him as its another busy year planned putting the bumper in and picking up wins along the way, good luck mate.