Hmm looks like a modern day grasshopper 2 to me. If you are looking into getting racing then I would definatly do as DCM suggested and look elsewhere. Basically that chassis was designed in the 80's and every so often tamiya release a newer version of it with a few little changes and give it a different name.
One of these looks like an ideal starter though..
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?p=323219#post323219