ORIGINAL: Gex_61
I've been into the car part of the hobby for about 10 years now. I don't know the exact date, but I was racing in 2000, possibly late 1999. If I remember correctly, NiMh batteries were just getting popular then. The highest capacity batteries were 1500mah. They would allow you to run in a 5min race, barely. From then on, it has only been improving. I know that 4200mah batteries were around by 2005, probably earlier. I know that 19t motors were around then. That setup right there is enough to compete with the best of them on the track. People that haven't made the switch to Brushless motors and LiPo Batteries are still getting
http://web.archive.org/web/200010082....castlerc.com/
http://web.archive.org/web/200010181...om/dragon.html
http://web.archive.org/web/http://castlecreations.com/
(follow the Sep. 29, 2000 link)
See in 2000 brushless was already in use by the rest-of-world (ie. planes, helis, etc.) and while LiPo was still new back then, by 2002/2003 it was starting to filter in. Not to mention in 2003 you had the introduction of one of the first designed-for-trucks brushless systems (after having been in development for over a year).
http://web.archive.org/web/200302040...com/index.html
The Trucks could have been near this level 8 years ago if people / organizations had just welcomed the new technology instead of fought it. Race-proven technology was available 6 years ago it was just quickly made illegal and hence it never saw the track. Fortunately today I think electric ground-vehicle RC is even with the rest of the hobby and there is no real turning back, only moving forward from here. Vehicles will continue to get bigger, better, performance will continue to improve, events like the ISC will push the limits of what can be done or what is accepted as 'possible'. As far as racing, 1/8th scale 4wd E-buggys are still pretty expensive right now but in a year or two you might see brushless RTRs of the same for under $400.