Yes Pro Tourer is certainly showing signs of a revival at Bayside with numbers improving while the world class Brendale track is having a makeover. You mentioned being on a budget and trying the hobby before jumping right in. 3Racings Sakura has shown itself as a pretty bullet proof car as far as surviving crashes is concerned with newbies. For learning car craft and Driving it's a good start. Parts are cheap and easy to get hold of. There are some brands like XRAY & VBC very well supported locally with a few second hand ones getting around for a good price. I personally like TAMIYA, then there are a few CAPRICORNS, SHUMACHERS, YOKOMO's, HOT BODIES And others as well. Plenty of choices. Sometimes too much.
If your choice is electric, then 21.5 is the place to start, less cost in day to day running of the car. Less stress on moving parts and slower speed when you crash = spending less money to keep it running. When you just cant wring any more out of the car for lap times and most importantly CONSISTENCY, then Upgrade.
Club memberships vary from Club to club. Bayside is now $40 for an adult renewable in January each year or half that for less than six months.
Club Members race for $10 a meet. Non members cost $15.
Tyres can cost up to $45 per set, or less for anyone wanting to sit there and put them together themselves.
It pays to have a simple set of tools for electrics. 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 & 3.0mm hex drives. a philips head and flat screw driver, pointy nose pliers, a 7mm socket for taking off the wheels, and a pair of small scissors. All the other gadgets can come later.
A battery charger and a couple of Lipo Batteries would get you through a race meet.

Bayside Racetrack timing will be on from 12 noon with practice all afternoon and racing from 5pm

Cheers Brendan
B.R.C.C.C Secretary