Hey everyone. I just joined the site after lurking a bit. I've just found out that my area has three or more qood offroad tracks not more than 30mins from my home. In the early to mid nineties I was into gas buggies and was up on everything about the hobby. Since then i've had no tracks in my area so i've held back on getting into the hobby. Well, now i'm back. I've been into r/c for many years and would consider myelf being in the high intermediate hobbyist. With that said i've got many questions as the hobby has changed in the last ten years.

I've always seen the Infernos dominate in my area since the mid nineties. My LHS stocks and carries kyosho parts so it seems the logical buggy to puchase. I'm looking at the new 777 kit but don't think i'm ready to jump up to the sp1. If the car is going to be raced is the sp1 worth the price difference? Or can I just upgrade the 777 with king headz parts down the line as I need them and still be competetive? Who has the best price on the 777b kit?

My next questions are in regards to radio gear. It seems most are running 3 channel radios with their gas buggies, why is this? Radio technology has changed in the past few years, what is a good midrange radio to purchase for the intermediate hobbyist?

As far as servos go, it seems most are running servos with over 100oz of tq. What is a qood tq range servo to use in a gas buggy? What type of brands and prices should I be looking at?

Lastly, powerplants. O.S. has always been popular around my area and that's what i've had experience with. It seems other brands have become conteneders now in the .21 buggy wars. I'm not wanting to spend $300 on an engine just yet, but would consider $150-$200. Something with strong bottem end and midrange are important. Any suggestions?

Thanks for any possible info. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Wow. I know there has to be some hardcore racers that have been there, done that and can offer some firsthand advice.

try an rb s5 or s7II for around $200 ish ...on ebay anyway...the s7II is basically the WS7 so its brilliant and cheaper than the WS72

777b around $380 is the best ive seen...also ebay....

IMO a good MID range radio would a Futaba Megatech 2PL, or if you can afford, an FM radio is better if youre gonna be racing

affordable servos - hitec - inconsistent, sometimes really good, but if you get a bad lot youre screwed
ko propo, futaba - hi quality

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. I think i'm going to go for an FM radio and have also decided on on the SP1 kit. It seems most racers are having good sucess with this kit. I'll look into the engines you suggested.

Thanks again.

you can get a fantom .21 for about 200. on ebay, ive seen .27's for 175 or so, not auction either. i have a fantom .27, its nice