Shortcuts: 1.A shortcut for mario carts on nintendo ds lite is on bowser castle 1 in the spinning room, instead of taking the short passageway which u would normally take, keep going and u'll see a passageway with red carpet along it, take this first passageway. 2.Another shortcut in delfino sqaure, when you get to the first fruit stall after just coming out of town, u will c 2 crates ahead of u, take a sharp turn right into this shortcut. 3.The third shortcut is on the track mushroom bridge, after coming out of the 1st tunnel u will start to take the turn when you see the mushroom house u will notice a little dirt track, this is your shortcut. 4.The Final shortcut is in sky garden, just before the second green bridge u will notice a cloud the runs across the corner, this is once again, your short cut. BUT...this takes a lot of practice, if you see the gaps in beetween, they must be jumped. u must use "R" to jump these gaps. Shortcuts: (These Shortcuts Require Mushrooms or speed ups. 1.The first shortcut is on cheap cheap beach, and is more considered as a "Corner Cutter". shortly after taking your second rainbow jump on your immediate left u will notice lighter water, using a mushroom, cut across this water. 2.The second is considered another "corner cutter", but is considerbly more effective than the previous one. This one is located on the track Luigi's Mansion. Right after coming out of the tunnel which leads you out of the mansion take a hard turn left, now use all three mushrooms to cut across to the gate, an effective "corner cutter". 3.the third is desert hills, which requires 2 mushrooms. straight after using the first turn, u will see a block pyramid, around where the fireballs are. cut across the inside of the pyramid with your mushrooms. 4.The fourth is located on mario curcuit (NOT Mario curciut 1!) right after u pass the castle. you will see 2 pirana plants, cut across the corner, this requires 1 mushroom. 5.the fifth is located on choco island 2 right at the start. if you are sittin directly on the start/finish line you will see a small cut in the wall ahead of you. go through that wall, the requires 1 mushroom. 6.the final corner cut is on yoshi curcuit. right after your second turn you will see a sort of tunnel, use a mushroom to overshoot the pit and you will have your final shortcut. Bonus's: 1.On dk pass right after you gain your second item box you will seea hill. go up the hill and you will see an item box, which will either give you three mushrooms or a star, no matter what position your in. (does not work in time trail mode) 2.on both airship fortress and delfino square there are crates, if you run into the crates they will either give you a mushroom or a banana or nothing. 3. On time trials using certain cars you can have three mushrooms instead of 1. 4.you can take a jump higher by using "R" right after you have jumped a rainbow ramp. hope this satisfys you, there are probably way more shortcuts and secrets out there!