if your having trouble w/ outrun races try running them w/ an SUV. sure the handling sucks and they are slow but its very easy to send your opponent into a spin and then they have no chance of catching up. I unlocked a unique vinyl and unique wing in like 10 minutes like this.
that sounds like thats the case. I think im maybe 30% thru and just realized last night that outrun races are where you get the unique stuff. i guess they are worth doing after all.