For 17.5, if money is an issue there are at least three brands that are affordable and can get you on the track.
Novak
Speed Passion
Hobby Wing

All three of these offer a "spec" class entry motor and ESC combo that won't break the bank and are competitive.
The ESC must either be "SPEC" or have a "Blinky" mode in which there cannot be any timing or boost added to the ESC. Mechanical timing on the motor is not regulated and is often used. A 2S lipo battery can be picked up from other drivers cheaply and as long as you have a descent servo you will do well with practice.

I run a flow in both my mod and stock short course with a reedy 17.5 and a reedy 8.5. I like them a lot but the others you mentioned are good quality too. The rules for stock are 17.5 and esc running in blinky mode (no boost or esc timing). As for tires on the indoor track, I like jconcepts pressure points or bar codes, proline ions, square fuzzies or suburbs....all in either soft or super soft depending on the temperature....hope you can make it down to a race at rchr soon. Just check the race calendar on rchr.biz for details..

Nice decision!

All you need is an ESC that has a blinky or no-timing mode and a 17.5 motor. There are a million opinions on motors but I run tekin and trinity. See ya out there!!!

All of the ESC's you've listed are quality items. I run R10 Pro's for the most part and have been very happy with them. It can run blinky for 17.5 classes and can easily handle mod motors. I run one in my 4wd SC with a four pole and it's been great. I'd imagine the other three are all able to run blinky as well and can handle any motor you'd want to run @ RCHR. I've got a couple older LRP's and they've been good too.

There are a lot of good 17.5 motors out there. Revtech is a good choice, as is the D3.5 (which will remain legal for some time). I've run Reedy and Orion as well and have been happy with the performance. Last I looked RCHR had a D3.5 in stock.

For indoor tires, I'd suggest pink Beams and/or green Barcodes to start. If the dust is low green Pressure Points work well too.
Hope that helps.

Strawberry?

If you want the best if the best I would say get the orion R10 and the program box. You don't need a lap top to change setting in the esc and you can change it on the fly. look to spend $210 + $60 for the program card. As for the motor... I have a reeedy mach 2 17.5 in my buggy and its great! Do you know what SC youre gonna go with?

I drove by the track, John and his crew are hard at work on a new layout with what looks to be two large loads of new dirt. Next indoor race at RCHR will be on a totally NEW layout.

Do you know if the shop will be open? I need a few goodies for the Kyoslow.

when's the next indoor race for wnw? after my unsuccessful attempts to tune my buggy for outdoors, i'm ready for indoors. i still need to lay down the wood in 4wd sct outdoors. however, if i remember correctly, i'm still the reigning champ in 4wd sct indoors for wnw. yeah baby, here we go!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Yes i picked up a sc10.2 ft brand new in box from a guy at work i have a a sc10 rtr rs as well but i stole the electronics out of it to try out the ft i picked up.

Sorry for the stuff I prolonged on this forum willy and john. I hope i'm still allowed to race at Rchr. I should have never brought up yesterday and learned my lesson. Jeff Roy I might be wrong and whatever, But it dose not matter anymore, I wont talk to you anymore or bring you up because we can't get along. Hope to see you guys soon if I can hopefully for the grand prix.

I run just about everything. The Orion R10 is a very good ESC (I have two), but it is also quite expensive and a bit overkill for 17.5. Great for mod, though. My personal preference for 17.5 is the Novak GTB2 if you're looking for quality and value. It does not have timing modes and so it is blinky by default. Novak ESCs are also among the easiest and most straightforward to program, as you don't need a programming box or a laptop. As for the motor, it really doesn't matter so long as it is 17.5. Different brands will have a different power band, but they are all so close to each other that you need only make minor adjustments in gearing and mechanical timing to make it as fast as the others. The cheapest motors I have found are the Turnigy Trackstar motors, which are basically a Reedy Sonic knockoff for ~ $30. However, if you want to support your local hobby shop, which likely does not carry Turnigy, then just take your pick from what they have.

As for tires, as has already been mentioned, it depends on temperature and moisture. Generally speaking, I run clay compound (Losi pink, JConcepts gold, Pro-Line MC) bar tires (BK bar, Barcodes, Suburbs) for the indoor season. I have found them to give better traction than soft or super-soft on that track, although when it gets warmer, the super-softs do work quite well there. I ran mostly Losi Pink BK Bars last winter and was very happy with them. This winter, I plan on experimenting with different brands to evaluate wear characteristics and general "feel."

Used to be mint chocolate chip until I could no longer eat chocolate. Now it's either coconut gelato or mango sorbet.

Unsuccessful? You mean never present? Show up more and you'll have it tuned I've heard murmurs of getting cable installed for the indoor season, so you can watch your precious football games during race day...