Ah cyclocross.....easiest cycling discipline to race, hardest to master.
I'll share my personal secrets with you, they are controversial, not everybody agrees with my style.
1) Go for the hole shot. Almost as much glory as winning, but a lot easier to pull off. Practice clipping in into you can do it quickly, first try. You don't want to start in your easiest gear, it depends on the terrain, pavement or hard gravel: big ring, big cog. Grass: small ring, 3 down the cassette. Try a few practice starts and adjust as necessary. As soon as the race starts, clip in as fast as you can and start hammering. Be first into first corner and receive glory. Crash if necessary.
2) Practice dismounts, you don't want to go into a barrier face first, but don't worry too much about mounts, everybody looks like a goof remounting.
3) Learn how much grip your tires have in the corners. Take corners faster and faster until you crash, then slow down 3%.
4) Lower you tire pressure. 30-32 psi maximum. Less if you have tubulars.
5) Always wear a skinsuit.
6) Learn to corner fast. Start wide, swing in to hit the apex and then swing wide again. Weight on outside pedal. Brake before the corner. Don't get back on the power until you are out of the corner.
7) Don't drop you bike, place it on the ground.
No drinking beer in the pits at a UCI race. Who knew?