Here is a patch which replaces the lives counter with a speedometer.
Displays the speed instead of the remaining lives left.
Distribution from HP:http://sldnoonmoon.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
(Neo ragged scrap workshop)
-Disclaimer
Ips is free to use, thank you and use at your own risk.
Super Mario Kart (Japan) (Rev 0A).sfc - NOINTRO
CRC32: C8002453
MD5: F7AFA112D7EC1D532636703E4B02700A
SHA-1: CBB853BF911255C1D8EB27CD34FC7855A0DDA218
SHA-256: C04F517C2675D7A8F3498D958F097443DFAA0E66606C69C59B58A915B3454973