[jim76]

i agree, the hobby is becoming too expensive to compete at regional level. And it must really discourage new people taking it up when they come down the club and say "how much is your car?" I know we can point them down the second hand route, but i bought most of mine second hand when i got back into the hobby a few years ago and i still spent best part of a grand.

I recently had a child and lost one income so the "hobby" expense was cut back and the knock on to my results was fairly evident. the killer is cells, especially the new 4200's that don't seem to have a great lifespan.
decent chargers are also a big expense. back in the 90's i had a schumacher pc3 charger for about £40. now i have a pulsar 2 and cdc, over £300 combined.

the cars and speedos aren't much more than they ever were. tyres and cells are the problem.

bring back 27t stock on slippery wood floors in the local village hall!!