Instructions
Press and hold the "A" button when the words "Get Ready" start to disappear from your screen at the beginning of the race. Pressing the "A" button at the right moment allows your character to receive a boost of speed at the beginning of the race, propelling him to the first-place position.
Drive directly behind another racer until white lines appear on the side of your kart. When this occurs, move to either side of the racer to overtake them in a burst of speed. This technique is called drafting and you can use it on any racer in the game.
Press "A" right before using a blue balloon item or before driving onto a zipper, the red and yellow arrow placed on the track. Normally, these items give you a speed boost for a few seconds. However, by pressing "A" right before you use them, you gain additional speed.