diff --git a/src/g_demo.cpp b/src/g_demo.cpp
index 9ea033f53..405163790 100644
--- a/src/g_demo.cpp
+++ b/src/g_demo.cpp
@@ -1548,8 +1548,9 @@ skippedghosttic:
 		if (*g->p == DEMOMARKER)
 		{
 			g->mo->momx = g->mo->momy = g->mo->momz = 0;
-#if 1 // freeze frame (maybe more useful for time attackers)
+#if 0 // freeze frame (maybe more useful for time attackers) (2024-03-11: you leave it behind anyway!)
 			g->mo->colorized = true;
+			g->mo->fuse = 10*TICRATE;
 			if (follow)
 				follow->colorized = true;
 #else // dissapearing act
diff --git a/src/k_director.cpp b/src/k_director.cpp
index b50d4a11b..764eac4a3 100644
--- a/src/k_director.cpp
+++ b/src/k_director.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@
 
 extern "C" consvar_t cv_devmode_screen;
 
+static bool race_rules()
+{
+	return gametyperules & GTR_CIRCUIT;
+}
+
 #define SWITCHTIME TICRATE * 5			// cooldown between unforced switches
 #define BOREDOMTIME 3 * TICRATE / 2 	// how long until players considered far apart?
 #define TRANSFERTIME TICRATE			// how long to delay reaction shots?
@@ -86,7 +91,9 @@ struct DirectorInfo
 		}
 
 		// if there's only one player left in the list, just switch to that player
-		if (playerstat[0].sorted != -1 && playerstat[1].sorted == -1)
+		if (playerstat[0].sorted != -1 && (playerstat[1].sorted == -1 ||
+				// TODO: Battle; I just threw this together quick. Focus on leader.
+				!race_rules()))
 		{
 			change(playerstat[0].sorted, false);
 			return;
diff --git a/src/k_hud.cpp b/src/k_hud.cpp
index d5d16ab49..9d80582f6 100644
--- a/src/k_hud.cpp
+++ b/src/k_hud.cpp
@@ -4425,27 +4425,28 @@ static void K_drawKartMinimap(void)
 		demoghost *g = ghosts;
 		while (g)
 		{
-			if (g->mo->skin)
-				skin = ((skin_t*)g->mo->skin)-skins;
-			else
-				skin = 0;
-
-			workingPic = R_CanShowSkinInDemo(skin) ? faceprefix[skin][FACE_MINIMAP] : kp_unknownminimap;
-
-			if (g->mo->color)
+			if (g->mo && !P_MobjWasRemoved(g->mo) && g->mo->skin)
 			{
-				if (g->mo->colorized)
-					colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_RAINBOW, static_cast<skincolornum_t>(g->mo->color), GTC_CACHE);
+				skin = ((skin_t*)g->mo->skin)-skins;
+
+				workingPic = R_CanShowSkinInDemo(skin) ? faceprefix[skin][FACE_MINIMAP] : kp_unknownminimap;
+
+				if (g->mo->color)
+				{
+					if (g->mo->colorized)
+						colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_RAINBOW, static_cast<skincolornum_t>(g->mo->color), GTC_CACHE);
+					else
+						colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(skin, static_cast<skincolornum_t>(g->mo->color), GTC_CACHE);
+				}
 				else
-					colormap = R_GetTranslationColormap(skin, static_cast<skincolornum_t>(g->mo->color), GTC_CACHE);
+					colormap = NULL;
+
+				interpx = R_InterpolateFixed(g->mo->old_x, g->mo->x);
+				interpy = R_InterpolateFixed(g->mo->old_y, g->mo->y);
+
+				K_drawKartMinimapIcon(interpx, interpy, x, y, splitflags, workingPic, colormap);
 			}
-			else
-				colormap = NULL;
 
-			interpx = R_InterpolateFixed(g->mo->old_x, g->mo->x);
-			interpy = R_InterpolateFixed(g->mo->old_y, g->mo->y);
-
-			K_drawKartMinimapIcon(interpx, interpy, x, y, splitflags, workingPic, colormap);
 			g = g->next;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/k_menu.h b/src/k_menu.h
index a9348442d..ff21a8ee2 100644
--- a/src/k_menu.h
+++ b/src/k_menu.h
@@ -547,6 +547,7 @@ typedef enum
 	playback_view2,
 	playback_view3,
 	playback_view4,
+	playback_director,
 	playback_freecam,
 	playback_quit
 } playback_e;
diff --git a/src/k_respawn.c b/src/k_respawn.c
index 6bb98db0e..d2da452db 100644
--- a/src/k_respawn.c
+++ b/src/k_respawn.c
@@ -509,6 +509,13 @@ static void K_MovePlayerToRespawnPoint(player_t *player)
 				player->respawn.distanceleft = 0;
 			}
 
+			// Almost all legitimate driving, no matter how clumsy, should be faster than death in TA.
+			// Advance only as far as we need to prevent respawn loops!
+			if (modeattacking)
+			{
+				player->respawn.distanceleft = 0;
+			}
+
 			player->respawn.wp = player->respawn.wp->nextwaypoints[nwp];
 			K_RespawnAtWaypoint(player, player->respawn.wp);
 
diff --git a/src/menus/transient/pause-replay.c b/src/menus/transient/pause-replay.c
index 411643c46..cc95e6d83 100644
--- a/src/menus/transient/pause-replay.c
+++ b/src/menus/transient/pause-replay.c
@@ -10,9 +10,22 @@
 #include "../../d_main.h" // D_StartTitle
 #include "../../k_credits.h"
 #include "../../g_demo.h"
+#include "../../k_director.h"
 
 static void M_PlaybackTick(void);
 
+// This is barebones, just toggle director on all screens.
+static void M_PlaybackToggleDirector(INT32 choice)
+{
+	(void)choice;
+
+	UINT8 i;
+	for (i = 0; i <= r_splitscreen; ++i)
+	{
+		K_ToggleDirector(i, !K_DirectorIsEnabled(i));
+	}
+}
+
 menuitem_t PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[] =
 {
 	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Hide Menu",			NULL, "M_PHIDE",	{.routine = M_SelectableClearMenus},	  0, 0},
@@ -30,8 +43,9 @@ menuitem_t PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[] =
 	{IT_ARROWS | IT_STRING, "Viewpoint 3",			NULL, "M_PNVIEW",	{.routine = M_PlaybackAdjustView},		120, 0},
 	{IT_ARROWS | IT_STRING, "Viewpoint 4",			NULL, "M_PNVIEW",	{.routine = M_PlaybackAdjustView},		136, 0},
 
-	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Toggle Free Camera",	NULL, "M_PVIEWS",	{.routine = M_PlaybackToggleFreecam},	156, 0},
-	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Stop Playback",		NULL, "M_PEXIT",	{.routine = M_PlaybackQuit},			172, 0},
+	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Toggle Director",		NULL, "UN_IC11A",	{.routine = M_PlaybackToggleDirector},	156, 0},
+	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Toggle Free Camera",	NULL, "M_PVIEWS",	{.routine = M_PlaybackToggleFreecam},	172, 0},
+	{IT_CALL   | IT_STRING, "Stop Playback",		NULL, "M_PEXIT",	{.routine = M_PlaybackQuit},			188, 0},
 };
 
 menu_t PAUSE_PlaybackMenuDef = {
@@ -39,7 +53,7 @@ menu_t PAUSE_PlaybackMenuDef = {
 	NULL,
 	0,
 	PAUSE_PlaybackMenu,
-	BASEVIDWIDTH/2 - 88, 2,
+	BASEVIDWIDTH/2 - 96, 2,
 	0, 0,
 	MBF_UD_LR_FLIPPED,
 	NULL,
@@ -155,7 +169,7 @@ static void M_PlaybackTick(void)
 
 	if (modeattacking)
 	{
-		for (i = playback_viewcount; i <= playback_view4; i++)
+		for (i = playback_viewcount; i <= playback_director; i++)
 			PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[i].status = IT_DISABLED;
 
 		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_freecam].mvar1 = 72;
@@ -166,17 +180,18 @@ static void M_PlaybackTick(void)
 	else
 	{
 		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_viewcount].status = IT_ARROWS|IT_STRING;
+		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_freecam].status = IT_CALL|IT_STRING;
 
 		for (i = 0; i <= r_splitscreen; i++)
 			PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_view1+i].status = IT_ARROWS|IT_STRING;
 		for (i = r_splitscreen+1; i < 4; i++)
 			PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_view1+i].status = IT_DISABLED;
 
-		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_freecam].mvar1 = 156;
-		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_quit].mvar1 = 172;
+		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_freecam].mvar1 = 172;
+		PAUSE_PlaybackMenu[playback_quit].mvar1 = 188;
 
 		//currentMenu->x = BASEVIDWIDTH/2 - 94;
-		currentMenu->x = BASEVIDWIDTH/2 - 88;
+		currentMenu->x = BASEVIDWIDTH/2 - 96;
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index fa3652788..b586c7481 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -2571,7 +2571,7 @@ static boolean P_KillPlayer(player_t *player, mobj_t *inflictor, mobj_t *source,
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if (modeattacking)
+		if (modeattacking & ATTACKING_SPB)
 		{
 			// Death in SPB Attack is an instant loss.
 			P_DoPlayerExit(player, PF_NOCONTEST);
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index 63bfe58ba..02eaa62fd 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -3304,10 +3304,21 @@ boolean P_MoveChaseCamera(player_t *player, camera_t *thiscam, boolean resetcall
 
 		if (turn > turnspeed)
 		{
+			// TODO: this code let the panning angle flip
+			// depending on your camera angle when entering
+			// the loop.
+			// It caused just about every loop to look weird
+			// sometimes, since the camera could move
+			// differently than configured.
+			// I don't know if this behavior should ever come
+			// back, but in case it should, I'm leaving this
+			// comment here.
+#if 0
 			if (turn < ANGLE_90)
 			{
 				turnspeed = -(turnspeed);
 			}
+#endif
 
 			focusangle += turnspeed;
 		}
@@ -3462,7 +3473,7 @@ boolean P_MoveChaseCamera(player_t *player, camera_t *thiscam, boolean resetcall
 	y = mo->y - FixedMul(FINESINE((angle>>ANGLETOFINESHIFT) & FINEMASK), distxy);
 
 	// SRB2Kart: set camera panning
-	if (camstill || resetcalled || player->playerstate == PST_DEAD)
+	if (camstill || resetcalled || player->playerstate == PST_DEAD || player->loop.radius)
 		pan = xpan = ypan = 0;
 	else
 	{