Step away from the thread. This subject will seriously hurt your wallet.
I had an RC car a few years ago which I enjoyed taking to the local bmx track to drive about. HPI firestorm. One day I got chatting to a bloke who suggested coming down to the local race track (Tarmac) and seeing what I thought.
I now don’t have a firestorm. I placed 3rd in our local league for Tamiya Mini Stock class (M05) and my son was 5th. I have all the associated gear now with batteries and chargers and am currently having a XRay T4 touring car prepared for my son for the winter season (I will still be running my mini though.
Highlight has been the progression through the C, B and then A finals. Me and my son now hunt the leaders down and take great delight in putting people with 20yrs experience under pressure. Painting the cars the same colour took a bit of getting used to but it makes it worthwhile when someone asks “which friggin Hobo is on my tail this time”.