This game reminds me a lot of another old classic -- Carmageddon.
I only had the demo version of it, but spent a lot of time playing. One of my favorite things to do (after getting tired of just racing and murdering pedestrians) was use a speed boost power-up at the base of a steep hill, and launch my car through the air. When I hit it right, I was able to actually completely clear the map... my car would go tumbling beyond the edge of the city into a gray oblivion.
Loved that game!