Ghost Riders:
To play against the course ghosts, go to time trials and complete the course under the time shown below. After you beat the time, immediately retry the course and it will say, "Now Meet the Course Ghost".

Course:          Time to Beat:
Mario Raceway    1'30"00
Luigi Raceway    1'52"00
Royal Raceway    2'40"00

Rocket Start:
At the start of a race, press A as the green light comes on. If you pressed it at the right time fire will come out the back of your kart and you will get a rocket start.

Shortcuts:
--Koopa Troopa Beach--
First, go until you get to the first set on ramps. At the end of those ramps there will be another ramp that goes into a tunnel in the side of the mountain. There are two ways to get into the tunnel. The first way is to get a mushroom and use it while you are on the ramp and you will fly into it. The second and harder way is, go on the ramp and jump when you get to the very end. If you jumped at the right time you will go into the tunnel.
--Wario Stadium--
When the race starts, quickly turn around and go back to the last turn. Then, turn back around and go forward. Keep going fast and go toward the wall at the top of the first hill. when you are just about to hit the wall jump and you should jump over the wall and you will be in first. This takes some practice, but once you get used to it, it is pretty easy. If you have a mushroom or a star when you want to take this shortcut it makes it a lot easier.
--Rainbow Ride--
First, do a turbo boost at the start of the race. Stay to the left side of the track. When you get to where you would start going down the first steep hill, jump over the fence and off the left side. If you jumped at the right time and at the right angle you will land on the track below and will be way ahead of everyone else. This shortcut also takes some practice to learn how to do it.