I started in the hobby in '97 or '98. Back then, electric racing was a lot of money. I remember you would have to pay like $80 for a high end 1700mah matched NICD unassembled cells. You would need like a minimum three packs per race day. And these cells would no longer be "compeitive" after 6 months from wear. Plus they required so much maintenance. Who remembers discharge trays? With lipos, you can show up to the track with a single 5000mah lipo, and have enough run time for two qualifiers and the main. Back then, high end modified brushed motors were like $55 and you had to cut the comm every few runs and replace the brushes. Now, you never have to open up a brushless motor except to maybe clean the bearings once a year.

I ditched electrics in 2000 or 2001 and went all nitro. Nitro was cheaper in the long run, it was faster, and I couldn't resist the run time. Was pretty much nearly all nitro until 2008, although I was less active in the hobby during those times. Nitro doesn't really have an advantage now except for sound and noise. Battery technology is still increasing, the piston engine is not. Now I'm back into electric and having more fun than ever. Thank god for brushless and lipo.

Also, the nitro classes keep shrinking and the electric class is growing so fast in my area.