Thanks for all the great reply's. I've been keeping an eye on marketplace as well as kijiji. Racing does cost a lot and my points of contention were more to do with how one company was effectively having a monopoly in a certain class. All USGT motors can be subject to timing testing as per the usgt rules (seems like you can even get DQ'd with a virgin motor that doesn't meet testing) So I fail to see how the industry/ officials couldn't have set specific resistance and timing spec tests to still allow consumer choice in motor selection. But I do get having one supplier keeps the field totally neutral.

@ Monkey. Racing RC is a recreational hobby, and racing can be expensive. however when they establish spec classes such as usgt or ttgt usually that's to keep costs down and have competition equal. spec motors & tires means no shelves of tires so that you have every compound / shore rating ready for the track conditions and you don't have a horsepower race with the motor companies. At the club level and the driving skills involved, tires don't make that much of a difference as long as you're running a compound meant for your track surface. especially since everyone is using sauce. In reality one fixed can brushed brand to another didn't make any difference back in 2007. those who could afford lipos (and the chargers) usually had an advantage but not so much that good drivers running NiMh packs couldn't be competitive. a proper setup car and driver skill are far more critical.

Overall it was more of a "culture shock" kind of moment for me when going over the rules and then checking prices. I think I'll pass on the USGT class and see if the local race director will let me run my brushed setup in the 21.5 stock class as they seem to be about the same punch as the old 19t on lipo. Or see if they have enough drivers for an open class and swap in my losi xceleron 13.5t. or maybe since TC3 is ancient maybe I'll make it CVTA compliant car. or maybe I'll just go buy a tt01/tt02 and just enjoy driving. y'all have a good one.