Its funny you and I have both come back from a 20 year break from the sport. The turbine is what brought me back. I have just recieved my turbine waiver last month and am working on a hot spot right now. I started back slow and worked my way through faster and faster prop planes. The quickie 500 with a good Dub Jett 40 will sharpen your skills for the speed. An old warbird with retracts and even flaps will get you up to snuff on the extra gadgets. My favorite plan for speed to date is the F3D from Kangee. Great plane, and with the right motor, I used a BSE 35 FIRE Dub Jett, THe plane flies great. Its very fast and does not want to slow for landings, sounds like a jet. Plus its small size and very narrow frontal view will sharpen your eyes.

Good luck on your quest
Nick