<p>Three rules from the pit lane:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Scale first, car second.</b> Where you drive decides what you drive — 1/28 for desks, 1/24 for the sweet spot, 1/10+ when there's ground under it.</li>
<li><b>Brushed to learn, brushless to last.</b> A brushed mini teaches throttle control; upgrade when you can hold a slide, not before.</li>
<li><b>Batteries are the real upgrade.</b> Run time changes everything. Buy the 3-pack before the second car.</li>
</ol>