How do you hold you shell or banana behind you? instead of dropping them instantly?
Is there any way of saving your self from a blue shell?

if you got on automatic you can hold the items behind you by letting the B Trigger pressed.

You can prevent yourself from getting hit by a blue shell if you have a star which you currently use or start using if the blue shell is shortly staying over your head.

To save yourself from a blue shell, have a mushroom (1 or 3), Or go through those "Portals" [ Such as the canon on DK Jungle parkway - Forgot the name of it] Or even on that ramp in the n64 version.

And yeah to hold things behind you, if your playing on the GC [perhaps classic controller to] Just hold the button that usually uses the items. Don't let that button go. If your playing with the wii wheel you have to hold the down button on the D-Pad.

hold d-pad down

just press the b trigger and it will hold the item behind you

to get pass a blue shell u will need a mushroom or 3 dont matter
but use ur mushoom right after the shell go over ur head snd go up to drop on us it as soon as it go up and cant see it

dont bother trying to dodge the blue shell. very small chance you will have a mushroom and be in first position anyway.