Getting started in racing
Contact a local club. 

Most have regular training outings (weekends, evenings), you'll meet other racers who'll willingly teach you the tricks of the trades, the local routes and just the espirit de corps which makes competing all the better. (As well as recommending the best local events.)

Everyone was a beginner once, although not everyone remembers that. If there are no online chat rooms for clubs in your area it might just be worth going out cycling in the local area of a weekend morning and trying to see groups in similar kit and just asking people. Especially if you can find where they stop for tea!