We race at Mansfield on Wed Nights (3rd floor) doors are open from 5pm til 10pm, just turn up everyone is really friendly and can give you some advise / help. I started racing two years ago and was in the same position as you, I now know what I'm doing - kind of
I wish I'd would have come to the club before I started buying things (cars, servo lipo etc) it would have saved me loads of £££..
See you there - Ask for Muz, John, Jason or Gaz