Thanks for the advice. There's a couple of local groups near me and I stopped by the closest shop (Galaxy Hobby) last weekend that held the regional TCS events to learn more about when and what was scheduled. I plan on visiting another group (Seattle RC Racers) tomorrow evening to see how they operate. From what I gathered on the latter's website, they are a bit more relax in their rule set so I might be able to run a GT3-class chassis with a silvercan 540 in their "Novice" spec, which would give be track experience without spending money on a "training wheels" chassis.

BanzaiHobby had a TA06-R chassis for less than what a TT02 + the recommended upgrades off Tamiya's "GT Spec Novice Rules" website. I'll need to add the body, electrical, and electronics systems if I go this route, but I think I can use those from my XV-01 Lancia Rally 037 as it has a Tamiya drive-train. Wheels might be more difficult as I'd prefer to find another set of Tamiya pepperpot wheels because the current ones have they rally tires glued on.

Thanks,
Vic