With doing some corporate and educational stuff with different cars, this is what I have seen.
APEX- uses allen screws to hold on the wheels. They can strip, are a certain size, and not anyone will have extras. Only come is brushless.
Vaterra- good cars, not alot of adjustablility on the radio side to slow them down for a true NOVICE. Comes in brushed or brushless.
Traxxas- Traxxas always durable, great amount of adjustments on radio and speedo. They stand behind there stuff. Battery and charger sold separately. Uses the traxxas ID plug, but can be changed. comes in brushed.
Novices, brushless if usual to much power, not fun when they are sliding all over the place and crashing/breaking.
Mark, I agree on the F1 motor, after just moving and all, i will be picking stuff up and racing again with you all. Usvta and usgt, 4tec. I think these would be solid classes for the road course.
Bill