Thinking of racing? Here's what's required

This is why I'd recommend joining a club as a better way to get into racing than simply doing some sportives. My experience of sportives is that they're full of people who don't know how to ride well in a group, are prone to bad habits, and are more interested in their "gold standard" time than in working together or trying to promote safe riding.

YMMV of course, but joining the right club will get you access to a lot more friendly people who ride consistently together week in and week out (some of which do sportives, yes, but a lot of which just like riding on weekends in a group), racers of all levels to be teammates/support in races, and older guys who have been around for ages and know a lot about tactics, etiquette, etc. All for the membership price of a couple of cough overpriced sportives a year. Much more bang for your buck and a whole different mentality too.
I said that :) http://www.lfgss.com/post1739231-136.html
join a club, do a few club runs ,do a few sportives, get mullered in your first race,perfect