Formula One: Built to Win (NES) Playthrough

I just finished playing through this for about the 4th time and decided to keep track of my progress and race results.
Starting in New York with the Mini Cooper and $2000 you're given, I buy a V-6 Engine for $2000
Enter Novice Race, entry fee: $0
The race features the NYC skyline, or at least the part with the Twin Towers
Place: 1st
Time: 1'16”9
Prize: $500
Purchase: Metal Bumper for $400
Enter Big Apple Night, fee: $50
The race features the same NYC skyline, this time lit up at night.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'20”3
Prize: $1000
Purchase: Metal chassis for $500
Enter Niagara Cup, fee: $50
The race has the Niagara Falls in the background.
Place: 1st, winning by .1 seconds and needing to use Nitro for most of the race to do so
Time: 1'29”4
Prize: $1500
Purchase: Full charge of Nitro for $130

Moving on to Detroit.
Enter Lakeside, fee: $50
The race has a forest and some mountains in the background. I'm not sure how this could be in Detroit, as the only mountains in Michigan are in the upper peninsula.
Place: 2nd, using Nitro for almost the entire race
Time: 1'24”3
Prize: $1800
Looks like I really need a Turbo, but I'm still a bit short on funds.
A quick trip back to New York to top off my Nitro for $70 and win the Niagara Cup again, putting me at an even $5000.
I take a trip to Miami to buy a Turbo for $4000 and top off my Nitro.
Back in Detroit, I have another go at Lakeside.
Yeah, that Turbo made a huge difference, as I didn't even need to use any nitro to win.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'20”3
Prize: $2000
Oh, yeah, I can sell off my old parts. So long 4 cylinder engine for $800 and aluminium (huh, they use the British spelling. I never noticed that before) chassis for a whopping $20. I need a higher license ranking to buy any other upgrades, so it's time to just knock out the remaining D-Rank races.
Enter Motor City, fee: $60
The background for this race is just generic high rise buildings with no Renaissance Center in sight.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'33”0
Prize: $3000
Oh, wait, I can upgrade my brakes, not like I ever use them. But since I have the money, I pick up some 4 wheel disk brakes in Yellowstone for $4000, then sell off the starting disc brakes in San Francisco for $500, and head back to Detroit.
Enter Knight of Night, fee: $100
The background is the same as Lakeside, but at night.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'28”5
Prize: $5000

On to Miami.
Enter Sea Breeze, fee: $100
This has a nice ocean view with a line of palm trees.
Place: 1st, passing the lead car just before the finish line
Time: 1'30”8
Prize: $5000
Enter Twilight Beach, fee: $200
The scenery is almost the same as Sea Breeze, except with some other type of trees mixed in with the palm trees, and it's at sunset.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'11”7
Prize: $4000 and the International C License
It's time to do some shopping with my $16350. Going for speed first, I buy a V-8 for $5000 and a Super Turbo for $10,000, giving my Mini Cooper a 150mph top speed. I unload the V-6 for $1600 and the Turbo for $3000. This gives me enough money to buy a Duralumin chassis for $3000. I unload the Metal chassis for $50, which is enough for 10cc of Nitro at the much more expensive price, now that I have a license. I also now have to spend money for tires for every race, as the standard 8 Ply Bias ones aren't going to cut it. I pick up a set of Belted Radials and enter the final race in Miami.
Enter Fantasy Dream, fee: $200
Well, this is more like Orlando, as Disney World is in the distance. I recognize the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'06”3
Prize: $8000
Races are now 2 laps long. Before leaving Miami, I upgrade to Air Suspension for $6000 and then sell off my Coil Dampened suspension in Detroit for $1000.

The next stop is Yellowstone. Oh, I can buy a Titanium chassis with this license, dropping the $4000 for it.
Enter Old Faithful, fee: $300
While the geyser isn't seen, there are some nice snow-capped mountains to look at.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'35”0
Prize: $6000
Enter Deep Forest, fee: $300
Another mountain vista, but this time tree-covered instead of snow-capped.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'22”0
Prize: $8000
That gives me enough to upgrade my bumpers to Shock Absorbers for $8000, so I can just knock all those pesky Beetles off the road. This makes the Body the first to reach into the A grade, getting an A-. The old Metal Bumper only gets me $40.
Enter Great Divide, fee: $500
A cluster of buildings are all the scenery I get.
Place: 4th
Time: 2'30”4
Prize: None
Ok, so the Mini Cooper isn't going to be able to win this race, at least not with the parts I can buy with this license. When I was barely passing the trio of competitors right at the start, I figured it would be a futile attempt.

Let's see if I can win in Dallas. If not, it'll be time to grind money for a better car.
Enter Hot Wind Run, fee: $500
This has a desert landscape with some hills in the distance.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'19”8
Prize: $8000
Enter Prairie Storm, fee: $500
Nothing but trees make up the scenery.
Place: 3rd
Time: 2'36”6
Prize: $4000
I barely got 3rd, so it's time to head back to Yellowstone and run Deep Forest a few times, as I didn't even need to use Nitro to win. Three wins later, I have the $30k needed to trade in my Mini Cooper for a Vector W2.
Enter Prairie Storm, fee $500
I like how not only do the other cars change from Volkswagen Beetles to, well, I'm not exactly sure what they are (maybe Acura NSXes?), the street signs also change.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'25”3
Prize: $10k
Enter Lone Star Run, fee $600
I think this uses the same scenery as Great Divide in Yellowstone.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'08”9
Prize: $15k and International B license.

I head back to Yellowstone to finish off the last C Rank race, as I thought this was the one that gave the B license. While I'm here, I drop $30k on a V-12 engine, putting the W2's top speed at 190mph. I unload the V-8 in Detroit for $4000. Nitro doubled in price.
Enter Great Divide, fee: $500
Yep, it's the same cityscape as Lone Star Run.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'10”8
Prize: $18k
Even crashing out once, I was in 1st place by the end of lap 1 without using Nitro. I do think I'll need to start using the $1000-per-set Slicks.

Based on the entry fees, Las Vegas is my next destination.
Enter Milion $ Night (I guess there isn't enough space to spell Million correctly), fee: $600
Unsurprisingly, the background is Las Vegas at night.
Place: 2nd
Time: 2'06”7
Prize: $10k
I tried not using Nitro.
2nd attempt at Milion $ Night.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'03”8
Prize: $30k
That gave me enough to buy an Impact Flow Turbo for $40k. The old Super Turbo gets me $8k.
Enter Pleasure City, fee: $800
A small city in the desert is this race's scenery.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'44”5
Prize: $40k
I could really use better suspension, but I can't upgrade that with my current license. Might as well upgrade my brakes to Antilock for $10k and unload my 4W-Disk brakes for $2000. That leaves my Steering as the only thing below an A grade.
Enter Gambler Run, fee: $0 (I guess this is free just in case you lose all your money in the casino)
I think those are steppes in the distance.
Place: 6th
Time: 2'21”5
Prize: None
I tried not using Turbo, which obviously didn't work.
Attempt #2:
Place: 1st
Time: 2'11”1
Prize: $50k

I stop in Yellowstone to buy a CFRP chassis, which must be lighter than the Titanium one, as it gives me a 5mph boost, then unload the Titanium chassis in SF for $400. Now it's on to Denver.
Enter Mile High Run, fee: $1000
Not a very exciting bit of scenery as there are just some hills or sand dunes.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'58”2
Prize: $18k
Enter Colorado Park, fee: $1000
Much better scenery with this race, as it's several buttes at night.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'15”9
Prize: $25k
Enter Mountain Road, fee: $1200
The scenery is another mountain vista.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'14”0
Prize: $30k
I didn't have to use Nitro in any of the races. I guess Denver is meant to be done before Las Vegas.

On to San Francisco for the final B Rank race. Oh, I guess I never sold my old brakes. I get $2000 for my 4W-Disk brakes.
Enter Golden Gate Run, fee: $2000
Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is seen in the distance.
Place: 2nd
Time: 2'24”4
Prize: $50k
I finished 1.6 sec behind 1st using no Nitro.
2nd try at Golden Gate Run.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'22”2
Prize: $80k and International A License
First thing's first: Head to Dallas and drop $200k to trade in my Vector for a Ferrari F40. Nitro is now $500 per 10cc. With only $36,590 left, I can't upgrade anything, so it's back to San Francisco.
Enter Alcatraz, fee: $2000
Another view of the Golden Gate Bridge greets me, this time with buildings on either side. It looks like I'm racing against Lamborghini Countaches now. The races are still 2 laps.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'31”5
Prize: $50k
I really need a better suspension, so I head to Los Angeles and buy an Active Suspension for $60k, and then to Detroit to sell my Air Suspension for $5000. Back to SF.
Enter Bay Circuit, fee: $3000
It's still the Golden Gate Bridge, this time at night.
Place: 3rd
Time: 2'12”0
Prize: $10k
I tried not using Nitro, but after the first lap, realized I wouldn't place without it.
The best prize money is from Golden Gate Run, so I enter that, as I really need to upgrade my engine.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'15”1
Prize: $80k
That gives me the $100k needed for a Turbine engine, which adds 20mph to my top speed, putting it at 240mph. The old V-12 gets me $20k.
Second attempt at Bay Circuit.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'08”0
Prize: $50k
The lead car gave me some troubles, especially since I caught up to it in among some heavy traffic.

Next stop, Los Angeles. Before entering any races, a quick stop at Denver gets my final upgrade with a $50k Memory Bumper. The old Shock Absorber only gets me $800.
Enter Sunset Strip, fee: $3000
The scenery is a couple rock formations at sunset.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'02”7
Prize: $50k
Enter Laguna Beach, fee: $3000
Disneyland is seen in the distance. It's the exact same as Disney World, except without Epcot Center.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'02”6
Prize: $60k
I did use Nitro to pass the competitors.
Enter Dragon Cup, fee: $4000
Familiar tree-covered mountains are this race's scenery.
Place: 2nd
Time: 2'06”3, 0.2 sec behind 1st
Prize: $50k
The one crash cost me.
2nd attempt at Dragon Cup.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'05”1
Prize: $100k

The final stop on the non-F1 circuit is Hawaii.
Enter Paradise Island, fee: $4000
Some mountainous islands are in the distance.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'52”1
Prize: $80k
I passed the lead car on the final turn.
Enter Volcano Bay, fee: $5000
I think this scene of a town among some mountains has been used before.
Place: 1st
Time: 2'04”9
Prize: $100k
I was able to survive a couple crashes to just barely win.
Enter Final Road, fee: $0
The race's scenery is oceanfront high rises.
Place: 3rd
Time: 2'02”3
Prize: $10k
A few crashes ruined me.
2nd attempt at Final Road.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'58”6
Prize: $150k and Super A License.
I passed the lead car on the final turn.

Now that I have a Formula One license, by entering the Final Road, it gives the option to race the F-1 circuits.
The first race is the Brazil Grand Prix, Nelson Piquet Circuit.
Checking the Power Up option, all upgrades cost $100k. I have over $500k, so I'll upgrade Engine and Acceleration twice and Grip once.
Practice is for the weak, so I immediately try to qualify. This is gonna be tough, as I qualified in 6th.
Man, there would be black flags galore and the entire field would be disqualified if this was in real life.
Place: 6th
Time: 2'06”6
Points: 1
Woohoo! I “won the 6th place”!
Well, that's unacceptable. Reload and head back to the US and make some money.

You can't run the Final Road again. I try a bit of the slots in Vegas, and after about 30 min, I turn $32k into $129k. Unless you get lucky and get 777, it's faster to just race the Dragon Cup in Los Angeles, which is what I do. Winning the Dragon Cup the 10 times needed to full upgrade the F1 car, I try again at Brazil.
I qualified in 2nd place, 0.3 sec behind A. Zenna, which is a play on Ayrton Senna.
Place: 1st
Time: 1'56”2
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Point Lead: 3 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #2: San Marino Grand Prix, Dino Ferrari Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 1'56”2
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 18
Point Lead: 12 ahead of N. Lansel

Race #3: Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'23”7
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 27
Point Lead: 15 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #4: Mexico Grand Prix, Rodriguez Circuit
Qualified: 2nd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'13”3
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 36
Point Lead: 18 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #5: U.S.A. Grand Prix, Phoenix Circuit
Qualified: 2nd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'25”7
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 45
Point Lead: 21 over A. Zenna

Race #6: Canada Grand Prix, Gilles Villeneuve Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'18”9
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 54
Point Lead: 30 over A. Zenna
I guess Zenna didn't race this one.

Race #7: France Grand Prix, Paul Richard Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'03”7
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 63
Point Lead: 33 over A. Zenna

Race #8: Great Britain Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'15”9
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 72
Point Lead: 42 over A. Zenna
Another race Zenna must not have run.

Race #9: West Germany Grand Prix, Hockenheim Circuit
This game must have been released right before the end of East/West Germany, as it has a 1990 copyright date.
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'07”5
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 81
Point Lead: 48 over A. Zenna
That was definitely the toughest race yet.

Race #10: Hungary Grand Prix, Hungaroring Circuit
Qualified: 4th
Place: 1st
Time: 1'53”4
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 90
Point Lead: 51 over A. Zenna
It's at the point where you have to keep knocking all the other competitors off the track without spinning out.

Race #11: Belgium Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps Circuit
Qualified: 4th
Place: 1st
Time: 2'04”0
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 99
Point Lead: 57 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #12: Italy Grand Prix, Monza Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'24”6
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 108
Point Lead: 60 ahead of A. Zenna
With 4 races left, I've sewn up the championship.

Race #13: Portugal Grand Prix, Estoril Circuit
Qualified: 4th
Place: 1st
Time: 2'26”8
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 117
Point Lead: 65 ahead of A. Zenna
That was really hard to win.

Race #14: Spain Grand Prix, Jerez Circuit
Qualified: 4th
Place: 1st
Time: 2'32”1
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 126
Point Lead: 68 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #15: Japan Grand Prix, Suzuka Circuit
Qualified: 3rd
Place: 1st
Time: 2'22”6
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 135
Point Lead: 74 ahead of A. Zenna

Race #16: Australia Grand Prix, Adelaide Circuit
Qualified: 4th
Place: 1st
Time: 2'08”1
Points: 9
Prize: $200k
Total Points: 144