diff --git a/src/deh_lua.c b/src/deh_lua.c
index 99c00ca33..c36ebc034 100644
--- a/src/deh_lua.c
+++ b/src/deh_lua.c
@@ -463,6 +463,42 @@ static inline int lib_getenum(lua_State *L)
 			}
 		return luaL_error(L, "power '%s' could not be found.\n", word);
 	}
+	else if (!mathlib && fastncmp("k_",word,2)) {
+		p = word+2;
+		for (i = 0; i < NUMKARTSTUFF; i++)
+			if (fasticmp(p, KARTSTUFF_LIST[i])) {
+				lua_pushinteger(L, i);
+				return 1;
+			}
+		return 0;
+	}
+	else if (mathlib && fastncmp("K_",word,2)) { // SOCs are ALL CAPS!
+		p = word+2;
+		for (i = 0; i < NUMKARTSTUFF; i++)
+			if (fastcmp(p, KARTSTUFF_LIST[i])) {
+				lua_pushinteger(L, i);
+				return 1;
+			}
+		return luaL_error(L, "kartstuff '%s' could not be found.\n", word);
+	}
+	else if (!mathlib && fastncmp("khud_",word,5)) {
+		p = word+5;
+		for (i = 0; i < NUMKARTHUD; i++)
+			if (fasticmp(p, KARTHUD_LIST[i])) {
+				lua_pushinteger(L, i);
+				return 1;
+			}
+		return 0;
+	}
+	else if (mathlib && fastncmp("KHUD_",word,5)) { // SOCs are ALL CAPS!
+		p = word+5;
+		for (i = 0; i < NUMKARTHUD; i++)
+			if (fastcmp(p, KARTHUD_LIST[i])) {
+				lua_pushinteger(L, i);
+				return 1;
+			}
+		return luaL_error(L, "karthud '%s' could not be found.\n", word);
+	}
 	else if (fastncmp("HUD_",word,4)) {
 		p = word+4;
 		for (i = 0; i < NUMHUDITEMS; i++)
diff --git a/src/deh_tables.h b/src/deh_tables.h
index d094bcbad..53c52fbfa 100644
--- a/src/deh_tables.h
+++ b/src/deh_tables.h
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ extern const char *const GAMETYPERULE_LIST[];
 extern const char *const ML_LIST[16]; // Linedef flags
 extern const char *COLOR_ENUMS[];
 extern const char *const POWERS_LIST[];
+extern const char *const KARTSTUFF_LIST[];
+extern const char *const KARTHUD_LIST[];
 extern const char *const HUDITEMS_LIST[];
 extern const char *const MENUTYPES_LIST[];
 
diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index df05e6983..7810636e1 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -9293,6 +9293,9 @@ mobj_t *P_SpawnMobj(fixed_t x, fixed_t y, fixed_t z, mobjtype_t type)
 	P_SetThingPosition(mobj);
 	I_Assert(mobj->subsector != NULL);
 
+	// Make sure scale matches destscale immediately when spawned
+	P_SetScale(mobj, mobj->destscale);
+
 	mobj->floorz   = P_GetSectorFloorZAt  (mobj->subsector->sector, x, y);
 	mobj->ceilingz = P_GetSectorCeilingZAt(mobj->subsector->sector, x, y);
 
@@ -10462,7 +10465,8 @@ void P_SpawnPlayer(INT32 playernum)
 			p->skincolor = skincolor_blueteam;
 	}
 
-	p->powers[pw_flashing] = K_GetKartFlashing(p); // Babysitting deterrent
+	if (leveltime >= introtime)
+		p->powers[pw_flashing] = K_GetKartFlashing(p); // Babysitting deterrent
 
 	mobj = P_SpawnMobj(0, 0, 0, MT_PLAYER);
 	(mobj->player = p)->mo = mobj;
@@ -12038,14 +12042,16 @@ static void P_SetObjectSpecial(mobj_t *mobj)
 
 static mobj_t *P_SpawnMobjFromMapThing(mapthing_t *mthing, fixed_t x, fixed_t y, fixed_t z, mobjtype_t i)
 {
+	fixed_t relativise = FixedDiv(mthing->scale, mapobjectscale);
+
 	mobj_t *mobj = NULL;
 	boolean doangle = true;
 
 	mobj = P_SpawnMobj(x, y, z, i);
 	mobj->spawnpoint = mthing;
 
-	P_SetScale(mobj, FixedMul(mobj->scale, mthing->scale));
-	mobj->destscale = FixedMul(mobj->destscale, mthing->scale);
+	P_SetScale(mobj, FixedMul(mobj->scale, relativise));
+	mobj->destscale = FixedMul(mobj->destscale, relativise);
 
 	if (!P_SetupSpawnedMapThing(mthing, mobj, &doangle))
 		return mobj;
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index e1d6838b5..790cf9031 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -4592,8 +4592,7 @@ void P_PlayerThink(player_t *player)
 		|| player->kartstuff[k_growshrinktimer] > 0 // Grow doesn't flash either.
 		|| (player->respawn.state != RESPAWNST_NONE) // Respawn timer (for drop dash effect)
 		|| (player->pflags & PF_GAMETYPEOVER) // NO CONTEST explosion
-		|| ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && player->bumpers <= 0 && player->karmadelay)
-		|| leveltime < starttime)) // Level intro
+		|| ((gametyperules & GTR_BUMPERS) && player->bumpers <= 0 && player->karmadelay)))
 	{
 		if (player->powers[pw_flashing] > 0 && player->powers[pw_flashing] < K_GetKartFlashing(player)
 			&& (leveltime & 1))