Times are changing. I remember when you could take an old car primered and beat up. Put a hot little motor in it and go out and have a good time racing. Now seems everyone wants to keep up with the Jones. It doesn't take a $100,000.00 to run no E, if you don't have to have the best paint job, trickest most up to date ride, along with the biggest stacker and toter home.
I remember a race I won 20 years ago, a guy came up and said this $3000.00 dollar car has done out run a million dollars worth of cars today. I took that as one of the best compliments I've ever got while racing.
But hect, now I have one of those racecars I used to love to outrun.
Don't let peer pressure force you to spend more money than your comfortable with. You can find a way to make racing fun without spending the most money and it feels better when you do good that way also.