As an aside, I still wouldn't ride on a track without a lockring cause you've got to be plenty smart not to backpedal at all, especially when learning. It really is a very small cheap piece of metal that is good for everyones safety.

----

I'm sorry about your hub, it really sounds like you got stitched by your LBS as he sold you either a singlespeed hub or a converted road hub. Don't know the best thing to do here, as he obviously knew he was selling a POS wheel even if it was cheap. I would talk to him again and see what can be done, but if he won't replace the wheel then I would never use him again.

He obviously doesn't know what he's doing or worse knows what hes doing and doesn't care.

If you skid or skip you need to invest in your drivetrain as you're putting a ton of stress on it in a way most components weren't designed for. Buy a good rear hub and chain at a minimum.

As for Joytech hubs, I believe they're made in Taiwan. They made a lot of BMX hubs once, which is probably what you have.