diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 4e102277a..e678886a8 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -482,8 +482,13 @@ extern UINT16 extralifetics;
 // SRB2kart
 extern tic_t introtime;
 extern tic_t starttime;
+
+extern const tic_t bulbtime;
+extern UINT8 numbulbs;
+
 extern tic_t raceexittime;
 extern tic_t battleexittime;
+
 extern INT32 hyudorotime;
 extern INT32 stealtime;
 extern INT32 sneakertime;
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index eeb1e01fb..21bd0fa4f 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -226,8 +226,13 @@ UINT16 extralifetics = 4*TICRATE;
 // SRB2kart
 tic_t introtime = 0;
 tic_t starttime = 0;
+
+const tic_t bulbtime = TICRATE/2;
+UINT8 numbulbs = 0;
+
 tic_t raceexittime = 5*TICRATE + (2*TICRATE/3);
 tic_t battleexittime = 8*TICRATE;
+
 INT32 hyudorotime = 7*TICRATE;
 INT32 stealtime = TICRATE/2;
 INT32 sneakertime = TICRATE + (TICRATE/3);
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 90afd4451..7e649ac43 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -7882,6 +7882,9 @@ static patch_t *kp_karmasticker;
 static patch_t *kp_splitkarmabomb;
 static patch_t *kp_timeoutsticker;
 
+static patch_t *kp_prestartbulb[15];
+static patch_t *kp_prestartletters[7];
+
 static patch_t *kp_startcountdown[16];
 static patch_t *kp_racefault[6];
 static patch_t *kp_racefinish[6];
@@ -7999,6 +8002,24 @@ void K_LoadKartHUDGraphics(void)
 	kp_splitkarmabomb = 		W_CachePatchName("K_SPTKRM", PU_HUDGFX);
 	kp_timeoutsticker = 		W_CachePatchName("K_STTOUT", PU_HUDGFX);
 
+	// Pre-start countdown bulbs
+	sprintf(buffer, "K_BULBxx");
+	for (i = 0; i < 15; i++)
+	{
+		buffer[6] = '0'+((i+1)/10);
+		buffer[7] = '0'+((i+1)%10);
+		kp_prestartbulb[i] = (patch_t *) W_CachePatchName(buffer, PU_HUDGFX);
+	}
+
+	// Pre-start position letters
+	kp_prestartletters[0] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_P", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[1] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_O", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[2] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_S", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[3] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_I", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[4] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_T", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[5] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_N", PU_HUDGFX);
+	kp_prestartletters[6] =		W_CachePatchName("K_PL_EX", PU_HUDGFX);
+
 	// Starting countdown
 	kp_startcountdown[0] = 		W_CachePatchName("K_CNT3A", PU_HUDGFX);
 	kp_startcountdown[1] = 		W_CachePatchName("K_CNT2A", PU_HUDGFX);
@@ -10586,6 +10607,130 @@ static void K_drawKartMinimap(void)
 	}
 }
 
+static void K_drawKartStartBulbs(void)
+{
+	const UINT8 start_animation[14] = {
+		1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
+		7, 6,
+		9, 10, 11, 12
+	};
+
+	const UINT8 loop_animation[4] = {
+		12, 13, 12, 14
+	};
+
+	const UINT8 chillloop_animation[2] = {
+		11, 12
+	};
+
+	const UINT8 letters_order[10] = {
+		0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 1, 5, 6, 6
+	};
+
+	const UINT8 letters_transparency[40] = {
+		0, 2, 4, 6, 8,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 10, 10, 10, 10,
+		10, 8, 6, 4, 2
+	};
+
+	fixed_t spacing = 24*FRACUNIT;
+
+	fixed_t startx = (BASEVIDWIDTH/2)*FRACUNIT + (spacing/2);
+	fixed_t x, y = 48*FRACUNIT;
+
+	UINT8 numperrow = numbulbs/2;
+	UINT8 i;
+
+	if (numbulbs <= 10)
+	{
+		// No second row
+		numperrow = numbulbs;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (numbulbs & 1)
+		{
+			numperrow++;
+		}
+
+		y -= (spacing/2);
+	}
+
+	startx -= (spacing/2) * numperrow;
+	x = startx;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < numbulbs; i++)
+	{
+		UINT8 patchnum = 0;
+		INT32 bulbtic = (leveltime - introtime - TICRATE) - (bulbtime * i);
+
+		if (i == numperrow)
+		{
+			y += spacing;
+			x = startx + (spacing/2);
+		}
+
+		if (bulbtic > 0)
+		{
+			if (bulbtic < 14)
+			{
+				patchnum = start_animation[bulbtic];
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				const INT32 length = (bulbtime * 3);
+
+				bulbtic -= 14;
+
+				if (bulbtic > length)
+				{
+					bulbtic -= length;
+					patchnum = chillloop_animation[bulbtic % 2];
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					patchnum = loop_animation[bulbtic % 4];
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		V_DrawFixedPatch(x, y, FRACUNIT, V_SNAPTOTOP, kp_prestartbulb[patchnum], NULL);
+		x += spacing;
+	}
+
+	x = 70*FRACUNIT;
+	y = 48*FRACUNIT;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < 10; i++)
+	{
+		UINT8 patchnum = letters_order[i];
+		INT32 transflag = letters_transparency[(leveltime - i) % 40];
+
+		if (transflag >= 10)
+			;
+		else
+		{
+			if (transflag != 0)
+				transflag = transflag << FF_TRANSSHIFT;
+
+			V_DrawFixedPatch(x, y, FRACUNIT, V_SNAPTOTOP|transflag, kp_prestartletters[patchnum], NULL);
+		}
+
+		if (i < 9)
+		{
+			x += (SHORT(kp_prestartletters[patchnum]->width)/2) * FRACUNIT;
+
+			patchnum = letters_order[i+1];
+			x += (SHORT(kp_prestartletters[patchnum]->width)/2) * FRACUNIT;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 static void K_drawKartStartCountdown(void)
 {
 	INT32 pnum = 0, splitflags = K_calcSplitFlags(0); // 3
@@ -11451,9 +11596,15 @@ void K_drawKartHUD(void)
 	}
 
 	// Draw the countdowns after everything else.
-	if (leveltime >= starttime-(3*TICRATE)
+	if (leveltime >= introtime && leveltime < starttime-(3*TICRATE))
+	{
+		K_drawKartStartBulbs();
+	}
+	else if (leveltime >= starttime-(3*TICRATE)
 		&& leveltime < starttime+TICRATE)
+	{
 		K_drawKartStartCountdown();
+	}
 	else if (racecountdown && (!r_splitscreen || !stplyr->exiting))
 	{
 		char *countstr = va("%d", racecountdown/TICRATE);
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index 994f7bccb..eb64639c2 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -2481,7 +2481,14 @@ static void P_LevelInitStuff(void)
 		introtime = (108) + 5; // 108 for rotation, + 5 for white fade
 	}
 
-	starttime = introtime + (6*TICRATE) + (max(p-2, 0) * (TICRATE/2)); // Start countdown time, + buffer time
+	numbulbs = 5;
+
+	if (p > 2)
+	{
+		numbulbs += (p-2);
+	}
+
+	starttime = (introtime + (3*TICRATE)) + ((2*TICRATE) + (numbulbs * bulbtime)); // Start countdown time, + buffer time
 
 	// SRB2Kart: map load variables
 	if (grandprixinfo.gp == true)