It could be that you have joined a server running a 3rd party statistics recording/server management app (airio)
Not all servers run this and many demo servers will just allow you to connect and race normally, can you remember the name of the server?
Just incase your having trouble getting to the multiplayer lobby (list of servers) and trying to unlock LFS, you need to start LFS, click Multiplayer, click Display list of hosts, then click on the name of any server in the list, then click GO in the next screen to join the server.
good luck.
SD.