Can't post a lot (have to go to work soon), but others are better qualified anyway.

Do go to an event.
Make sure to put your electronics really safe, since you'll want to reuse them in your "real" bot, it's likely you'll want to do major changes to the chassis afterwards, anyway.
i'm new to this, too, and had my first event last weekend. also tried to get just something that drives together.
And honestly... what i've learned there (just from looking at others, them helping me putting it back together and stuff like that) was worth more than months of internet searches.