Only 1 ripple strip is glued down, last corner... although if you're travelling too slowly you will ride up on it. The others, if left in place, will be in the way, so I will paint some on the track surface as I had done already and I may sit the MDF ones behind the painted strips... sort of as if they have an apron.
Still seeing how different cars behave through different corners.
Lighting? Still working through it. I am about to start on some banner lighting, using warm white LEDs, but the street lights as above are cool white. The pits, I'm leaning to warm white and the Race Control building will be cool white. This should break things up a bit and add a point of difference to the look of it. Like you, I wouldn't mind more cars with lighting kits!