To Jason and anyone else new to RD :-
The leader boards are great for seeing yourself on and getting an idea of what is a really fast time.
One thing I see over and over, are posts about people bringing their driving up to a competitive pace before they enter any RD events. I think this comes from the impression that were all seriously fast and will look down on people who for whatever reason are not a quick as everyone else.
This could not be further from the truth, the only time people in RD events will look down on you or not be happy about you being in an RD event is if you disrupt their race DELIBERATELY. Even if your slower than a snail on track, so long as you don't block the leaders as they lap you and give Respect and Roadspace to other players then your guaranteed to get it back, usually more so because some of these guy are so skilled and it shows even when there lapping you.
In short - if youv'e joined the club - join some events - or the casual servers - best at first to start from the back anyway (even if you can qualify near the front) and easy into the first turns - I guarantee, no matter how many hours you spend practicing, its when your in a server with 20+ other RD members that the real practice and learning begins, so don't be afraid or feel you have to meet a standard, find an event, make sure you have the cars and track(s) for that event if there not standard in game ones and have some fun..
For example - last night I felt like a race - checked the racing club - and saw that very few had signed up for the Escort V8 race at Rouen Les Essarts - I posted can I join about ten minutes before the event (official practice) start - then downloaded the Escort V8 mod and installed it (already had the track) - then joined the server - OK I wasn't fast, even though I used Yves' setup which he had shared in game - one of the other players even dropped back when he realised he couldn't catch those in front of him, to race with me (thanks again Dennis) - that about sums up how being active in the club races is - great people great racing great fun. So sign up and join in, sooner rather than later, you won't regret it.