Well, the kit alone cost me about $250. Then the engine was another $150 (don't go all out, get a decent performer since you're still learning like the OS TR12. The radio was about $150.Starterbox was $125. Then the body,reamer, paint, glow ignitor, extra plugs, temp gun ... with everything needed to make and run the car plus the misc stuff it was abou $700.
sl0eg1n is my brother and it was him that pushed me to get the kit version and I thank him for it. If you get the Factory team kit, all the hopups are there with the kit. Nothing will be needed to really buy to make it perform at it's best. Everything else will be aftermarket (ie: chassis). The MOST IMPORTANT thing you should get ... other than a failsafe, is what's called "The Fix" It can't be bought at most LHS's. It is distributed through eBay. It basically makes your front end more bullet proof. It ties your shock tower and diff case together with a nut and bolt that goes from the chassis to the shocktower and mends it as one. I went through 2 front ends in 1 race before getting it.
Remember, you put it together .. you'll know how to tear it apart and fix what's necessary. BTW, when you race bring extra parts. I usually bring enough to make 2 complete front ends, extra servos, driveline, fuel tank, suspension parts ...
RRWC, the places we attended last year and this year are pretty vast in their scheduling. The one we are going to this Sunday, BARCARC, is a twice a month thing as opposed to Prospeed R/C Raceway which is every sunday, weather permitting. NERCAR holds schedules as well and the one that I am hearing everyone rave about is R/C Madness. In short, every sunny weekend will see a race.
The invite is open to ANYONE who wants to race competatively in an organized fashion.