HFT was one of my favourite shooting disciplines but sadly I have family obligations which mean I can't spend a day out taking the piss, rolling in mud, being cold/wet or on occasions sweating my tits off and swatting flies.
While being slightly jealous of some of the kit that was being shot it wouldn't have made me a better shot, more practice would! I always enjoyed chatting with the vast majority of the people who shot from beginners to experienced and will be back at it as soon as I possibly can. In general they're a great bunch, with one or two exceptions but you get that in any large group of people.
Don't get put off by not having the latest fashionable expensive kit, take whatever you have, try it and have a try of other shooters kit (most will let you have a look through their scope or a few shots on the zero range with their rifle if they aren't busy trying to zero themselves). If you like the atmosphere and competition then think about spending on a better scope or gun but you don't need the mega expensive kit to win, nor do you need years of experience as a few years back we had a 14 year old world champion.
Most clubs will run a club championship and have informal meets when no competitons are on, find one local to you and get in touch, go chat, try your gun and sight on the practice range, do a club competition, don't get put off by not scoring highly the first time you try, everyone has to learn!
You will learn tons of stuff about technique and gear that you can't read from magazines or forums but always remember that there is more than one option, what works for some may not work for you, just have a go, what have you to lose? A few hours on a Sunday? There are much easier ways to waste time that are nowhere near as much fun, you could sit watching footy on the telly for instance...