Jim,
Your team affiliation status, or lack thereof, doesn't mean you can't, or aren't welcome to for that matter, join team or league servers when they are open to the public. You'll find that is one of the easiest ways to get to know a team, and for them to get to know you, in an effort to join said team. Teams like LOTF, I'm certain, would welcome and expect that you race with them for a while before any mention of joining a team comes up.
Your team affiliation status, or lack thereof, doesn't mean you can't, or aren't welcome to for that matter, join team or league servers when they are open to the public. You'll find that is one of the easiest ways to get to know a team, and for them to get to know you, in an effort to join said team. Teams like LOTF, I'm certain, would welcome and expect that you race with them for a while before any mention of joining a team comes up.