Job 9:
I've gone overboard again, and done two:
First a more broad Special Item:
#1: Magical Potion
The magic potion from SMB2.
When used, the user enters subspace, an alternative reality. Essentially the item makes the racer intangible for moments allowing for any items that would cause spin outs to phase through them harmlessly. About to trip on a banana peel? Not a problem. Use the potion, and you'll slip past it. About to be Blue Shelled? You can avoid it if you've managed to hold on to this in first place. (Although this item is incredibly hard to get past 4th place for balance reasons).
The item cannot be held behind to block other projectiles.
Whilst in Subspace, the sky will go dark for the user.
Item boxes can still be picked up whilst in Subspace.
Suggested character options:
Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad all used this potion in SMB2.
Kamek is THE magic guy, so it wouldn't be out of place in his hands.
Wart/Birdo are currently being voted for, but as members of the Subcon Army, them using these items wouldn't seem hugely out of place.
Shy Guy isn't on the roster yet, but should he be this item wouldn't be a bad choice for him either as another member of the Subcon Army.
Next up, a more specific item for a smaller handful of potential characters:
#2: Wanda(and Pidgit)
Wanda is...an extremely obscure old character. She's not as well beloved as Wart, Geno, Mallow or Tatanga even.
But I don't think that's neccesarily a reason to keep her out this Mario Kart! The more old school revivals the better I say, and she fits nicely into the specialised item category.
Wanda is the fairy from Mario & Wario, in which she provided safe passage for Mario, Peach and Yoshi who...had buckets dropped on their heads by Wario by utilising her magic wand...in the Super Mario Manga she also fulfills the role of the nameless sprite/fairy from Wario's Woods, assisting Toad in taking Wario down by providing him with bombs.
For the sake of this item, it's the latter we'll be using her for.
Upon being summoned, Wanda will stay above the driver who summoned her and rain bob-ombs down upon the driver, creating a carpet bomb trail effect behind them which destroys items thrown their way, and any sap who foolishly tries to tailgate you!
You may want to keep driving though as a crash or slowing down too much will cause YOU to get caught in the bomb downpour!
Mock Up:
Suggested character options:
Toad and Birdo both worked alongside Wanda to defeat Wario...so Wanda would fit both of them...this item however also works with a Pidgit reskin for...
(and maybe Waluigi if you like, who knows)
For those not in the know, Pidgit would replace the fairy in Wario's Woods, dropping monsters and the occasional bomb to Toad as Wario's sidekick.