I realise some people may consider this a little too late (1989) to be a 'classic', but...
I went to a 'Retro' computing event in Barcelona, Spain, recently and this was the only actual original cabinet game they had there amidst all the 60-in-1 LCD thingies...
...and what fun!
Particularly when eccentric strangers come up beside you (
) and start playing. Smashing stuff.
To the questions...
1. Is there any tangible benefit to buying anything in the shop in a particular order? I've tried going for Top Speed (or Tyres, Shocks, etc.) first but can't really see any advantage...
2. Can the prizes that appear on the track (money and nitros) be manipulated? (I'm under the impression that if I don't spend any cash after round 1 tons of moneybags start appearing in round 2, for instance - but that be the beer or the jazz cigarettes talking.)
Cheers!