First cyclocross race - strategy Next weekend there is a cyclocross race at a park near my house. 
My first organized bicycle race ever.  

I would like advice / links on strategy, rules, and protocol.

I am over 50, in good bicycle shape, and comfortable on trails.  

I ride a bicycle daily and take a 45-75 minute workout ride at least 3 days as week.
So I am pretty comfortable with what I can do in 45 minutes.  

My thought is to try and hold with the leaders as long a possible.
If it only 5 minutes then so be it but I want to know what that pace is.
How do I even know which riders are in my age group? 

I suspect I will be lapped.  How do I deal with that?

This is a links to the event information   2014BCRCX2   register
So I did my first race to today and here is my take on first race strategy.  


Unless you are a solid road or mountain racer don't even think about
staying with the leaders.  The pace is fast.  It is faster than you
can ride.  It was two gears faster than I thought it would be.  For non a racer I am a good rider and in very good shape.  I got lapped 30 minutes into 45 minute race.  Even on the 4/5 30 minute race I got lapped on my second to last lap so it got turned into my last lap.
Bring chap stick
Don't over eat
Don't drink the night before the race - it was Halloween and I went
on the Critical Mass ride
Bring water as the event may not supply water - it was a well run event
but the park did not have water
On the last 2 or 3 laps they will tell you how many are left.  If you
get passed by the leader then that is a lap.
Ask questions.  Riders are are very helpful.
If you are over 40 and not experience then you don't really have a
good option.  You may have a 1/2 the field Cat 3 or above in
masters.  And in 4/5 you are going against 20 year old legs and lungs.
Just have fun.
If you are in the last race and they serve beer then stash a cup
before the race as once the Cat 1-3 hit the keg they drain it.
If they cheer for you to ride the sand pit or other hard obstacles and
they are not a racer it is because they want to see you crash.
Heckling is a big part of the sport.  Don't wear a yellow jersey -
especially your first race.
If you are coming into a section that you are going to need to hit
the brakes then coast a little longer and use less brakes.  There are
going to be sections of course where you don't brake and go
all out.  Use the downhills to recover.
When you get passed they will tell you what side they want.  And you
will hear them.  On a corner just go wide.
Once you get passed is when you can learn.  Watch their lines. 
Watching from the sidelines is not the same.