The DF-03 doesn't come with a speed controller either.
For a beginner looking to race something, the Durga probably is a better solution. For a backyard/gravel field/occasional trip to the track, the df-03 is more cost efficient.
Lipo and brushless... Meh.. That's a huge cost, and for a beginner it'll probably give you too much car. That said, the 540 that it comes with sucks... Spend the 30 bucks and get even a cheapy trinity motor. The co27 monster stock makes the car go substantially faster and will run for like 20 minutes on a 4200mah nimh battery. (Another 40 bucks)
The shocks... Oh boy... Sadly it's must. Ebay. 20 bucks. Even the Tamiya hopped up ones are a world better than stock. Get them from
http://myworld.ebay.ca/the-toyz He's an excellent seller. Lots of other things are available, but that'll get you a great car.