Hi,
Just to make it clear for the other people here, I'm not a member of EPR, but made my first trip to EPR on the 7/3 and loved it. My home club is TORCH in Hampshire.
I'm running a KO Helios with Spektrum 2.4Ghz, but I got it 2nd hand. Awesome piece of kit, but a bit expensive new. Worked flawlessly at EPR, the only issue I have ever had was my fault and that was at TORCH.
I'm running corrally connectors, but that is due to the Nosram 5300 LIPOs having female corrally connectors built in. If I was looking at LIPOs I would look at Speed Passion, Nosram or Vampire Racing and they all have the female corrally connectors (these brands are ones that I have used). There are also lots more good cells and I'd recommend having a look on the BRCA list. When I started with LIPOs last year I had a few sets of TrakPower 3600s and they were brilliant in my Losi XXCR and I got them 2nd hand for a good price.
http://www.brca.org/BRCA/elecboard/n...0v1%20pdf2.pdf
As for the motor go 7.5 or above.
Car wise I don't think you can go wrong with a Cougar. I think it's all down to personal taste and what you can get spares for easily. on the 7/3 I saw AE B4s a B3, Losi XXX, XXXCR, Atomic Carbon CR2s, Xfactory X6s and of course the Cougar. At our club it's all B4s (with the exception of a XXCR) which is a bit of a shame as we never see anything different. However this I think shows how good the B4 is for all levels.
I'm by no means the quickest or best racer, but as people know I like to ask questions.
I hope this info helps and if I need correcting please correct me!
As other people have said get down to EPR and have a chat with people. We encourage this at our club too as you'll then see the kit in action and get your hands on things to have a look.