Hi & welcome.
We run RallyX 1/8th & 1/10th electric (majority 2wd) on the dirt & 1/10th electric only on the grass. I would say also the grass layout is too small for 1/8th anyway.
The structure for racing is quite casual & certainly friendly, no transponders though. Depending on numbers, Dave may set up his laptop for lap timing etc & maybe get mains power for the sheltered pitting area for re-charging, lighting etc if it's windy, cold, wet etc.
I'll be bias regarding Ansmann as i run my x2c (mid motor) & a Mad Rat as a back up. They're great cars for the price. Might be worth looking at the Mad Monkey too (equivalent to Mad Rat but mid motor), generally seen as better on high grip ie, grass or astro. Rear motor Mad Rat slightly better on loose surfaces ie, dirt. May also be worth considering 2nd hand. Certainly a Rat or Monkey are cheap enough to get another for spares, though i'd rather get 2 or 3 of the parts which break the most & maybe upgrade too instead of having one of everything, some parts of which you'll maybe never use. Either way, you'll want to upgrade with a set up bearings to replace the kit bushes & maybe an uprated idler gear ,or both for the Mad Monkey, especially with brushless/lipo's.
We've had a few guys with Associated B4.1 brushless RTR buggys which go well too, proven design, better shocks, 2.4Ghz radio etc:
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/associat...products/35112
2wd 1/10th tyres, i've found the Mad Rat/Monkey front kit ribs work well on our dirt track, or Schumacher Stagger Ribs. On the rear we generally use the Pro Line Bow Tie M3's. On grass it's Schumacher Mini Spike yellows on the rear & greens if wet, & Stagger Ribs on the front.
The kit rear tyres aren't really ideal for either track tbh, if anything they may work better on dirt than grass.
Can't comment on choice of electrics, i'm sure the other guys more clued up will offer good advice.
That's it, just turn up with your gear, lunch, warm clothes etc. £3 per meeting for electric, i think £4 for nitro RallyX.
Hope some of this helps,
Dan.