F-Zero 99 - Classic Mini Prix

Coverage of Sonic Frontiers will resume later--I wanted to put something else here for symmetry's sake over the week. I accidentally put myself into this, right when the countdown in the lobby reached zero, so I found myself playing this against my will. I’m terrible at Classic races, so I typically avoid them, but, well, here we are. And I’m using the Golden Fox too, which is arguably the worst vehicle for this mode, because its viability in F-Zero 99 is from how it can use many boosts between pit zones, whereas here, you get one boost per lap, and the pit zone is solely for repairing damage.
I wasn’t too clear on the rules for Classic Mini Prix, but as it seems, the bottom-performing racer is eliminated each lap. Since you begin with 20 racers, there are 4 laps per race, and there are 3 races in all, by the end, there will be only 8 racers remaining. If this rule holds true for Classic Grand Prix, which I haven’t tried, that means there can only be 1 racer left standing by the end of the Grand Prix. What a proposition!
00:00 - Race #1
Course: Sand Ocean
Mode: Classic Mini Prix
Vehicle: Golden Fox
Rivals: Xuilin, つぼ (Tsubo), HJD, ぐま (Guma)
I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, and only the vague knowledge of Sand Ocean’s layout to guide me the way…I also was surprised at how much damage I was taking hitting the walls, as F-Zero 99 has the vehicles MUCH sturdier. It seems I wasn’t the only one to be surprised by that, considering three people crashed out on the first lap, with a fourth one later on, allowing me to proceed to the second race.
03:29 - Race #2
Course: Red Canyon I
Mode: Classic Prix
Vehicle: Golden Fox
Rivals: FAlexImbel, ゲームヒューマン (Game-human), Sproy óÓÒò, jibanou
Good to know the same idea behind the rocket start exists in Classic races. The Golden Fox is the rarest vehicle type in Classic races, with I think only one other one left in this race, letting me take the lead out at the beginning. Of course, the Golden Fox’s top speed is the lowest, so I don’t keep that lead for long. But hey, I survived, whereas one of my rivals, and one of my former rivals, crashed out on the second lap.
06:20 - Race #3
Course: Fire Field
Mode: Classic Prix
Vehicle: Golden Fox
Rivals: つぼ (Tsubo), FAlexImbel, Sproy óÓÒò, Jes
And then I thought, “Fire Field? You’ve given me Fire Field in Classic?” And racers continue to get eliminated here! Not only did three of my rivals crash out in this race, I was in danger of crashing out myself for a while, and through some of the most dangerous parts of this course!
No new paint jobs, patterns, boosts, badges, or whatnot for finishing a Classic Mini Prix though.

[@darkbeastqueen]

Gotta love those bumpers, especially the red ones. I can't remember how many times I got my vehicles slammed off course or crashed out because of a bumper popping up at the worst moment.
With how many vehicles there are in F-Zero 99 mode, it would be a nightmare if bumping into stuff caused as much damage as in Classic mode.

[@Overhazard]

Every race would end with just the few people who don’t crash out! (And the Golden Fox and it’s great acceleration letting it escape the pack at the beginning would likely be the last ones standing.)

[@randomyoshi]

I was wondering why the tracks look so narrow until I realized that the Mini Prix used the classic versions of the track instead of the wider F-Zero 99 versions of the track. And wow! I was surprised that you didn't crash out when you ran out of energy in the 3rd lap in "Fire Fields." You were also in danger of ranking out early in the final lap of the track, but the player behind you crashed out, which allowed you to finish the race without worrying about ranking out.

[@Overhazard]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if I'd make it to the end or even get ranked out. Even then though, I would've kept this run because I had made it to the last race.