diff --git a/src/karts/kart.cpp b/src/karts/kart.cpp
index e79f26911..e3ef86d53 100644
--- a/src/karts/kart.cpp
+++ b/src/karts/kart.cpp
@@ -1990,9 +1990,9 @@ void Kart::crashed(const Material *m, const Vec3 &normal)
  */
 void Kart::playCrashSFX(const Material* m, AbstractKart *k)
 {
-    if(World::getWorld()->getTime()-m_time_last_crash < 0.5f) return;
+    if(World::getWorld()->getTimeSinceStart()-m_time_last_crash < 0.5f) return;
 
-    m_time_last_crash = World::getWorld()->getTime();
+    m_time_last_crash = World::getWorld()->getTimeSinceStart();
     // After a collision disable the engine for a short time so that karts
     // can 'bounce back' a bit (without this the engine force will prevent
     // karts from bouncing back, they will instead stuck towards the obstable).
diff --git a/src/modes/follow_the_leader.cpp b/src/modes/follow_the_leader.cpp
index 7b29a8653..626d1260a 100644
--- a/src/modes/follow_the_leader.cpp
+++ b/src/modes/follow_the_leader.cpp
@@ -113,15 +113,6 @@ const btTransform &FollowTheLeaderRace::getStartTransform(int index)
     return m_track->getStartTransform(start_index);
 }   // getStartTransform
 
-//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-/** Returns the original time at which the countdown timer started. This is
- *  used by the race_gui to display the music credits in FTL mode correctly.
- */
-float FollowTheLeaderRace::getClockStartTime() const
-{
-    return m_leader_intervals[0];
-}   // getClockStartTime
-
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** Called when a kart must be eliminated.
  */
diff --git a/src/modes/follow_the_leader.hpp b/src/modes/follow_the_leader.hpp
index 37e395b8f..dcfaa62be 100644
--- a/src/modes/follow_the_leader.hpp
+++ b/src/modes/follow_the_leader.hpp
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ public:
     virtual void reset() OVERRIDE;
     virtual const std::string& getIdent() const OVERRIDE;
     virtual const btTransform &getStartTransform(int index) OVERRIDE;
-    virtual float getClockStartTime() const;
     virtual void getKartsDisplayInfo(
                  std::vector<RaceGUIBase::KartIconDisplayInfo> *info) OVERRIDE;
     virtual void init() OVERRIDE;
diff --git a/src/modes/world.cpp b/src/modes/world.cpp
index 2cbd03982..413c8d3c5 100644
--- a/src/modes/world.cpp
+++ b/src/modes/world.cpp
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ World::~World()
     race_manager->setRaceGhostKarts(false);
     race_manager->setRecordRace(false);
     race_manager->setWatchingReplay(false);
+    race_manager->setTimeTarget(0.0f);
 
     Camera::removeAllCameras();
 
diff --git a/src/modes/world_status.cpp b/src/modes/world_status.cpp
index 880a18175..81e066a0e 100644
--- a/src/modes/world_status.cpp
+++ b/src/modes/world_status.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ void WorldStatus::reset()
 {
     m_time            = 0.0f;
     m_auxiliary_timer = 0.0f;
-    
+    m_count_up_timer  = 0.0f;
+
     m_engines_started = false;
     
     // Using SETUP_PHASE will play the track into sfx first, and has no
@@ -340,16 +341,19 @@ void WorldStatus::update(const float dt)
     {
         case CLOCK_CHRONO:
             m_time += dt;
+            m_count_up_timer += dt;
             break;
         case CLOCK_COUNTDOWN:
             // stop countdown when race is over
             if (m_phase == RESULT_DISPLAY_PHASE || m_phase == FINISH_PHASE)
             {
                 m_time = 0.0f;
+                m_count_up_timer = 0.0f;
                 break;
             }
 
             m_time -= dt;
+            m_count_up_timer += dt;
 
             if(m_time <= 0.0)
             {
diff --git a/src/modes/world_status.hpp b/src/modes/world_status.hpp
index 736dcfb6b..0a329d8f9 100644
--- a/src/modes/world_status.hpp
+++ b/src/modes/world_status.hpp
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ private:
      */
     float           m_auxiliary_timer;
 
+    float           m_count_up_timer;
+
     bool            m_engines_started;
     void            startEngines();
 public:
@@ -172,6 +174,10 @@ public:
     /** Called when the race actually starts. */
     virtual void onGo() {};
 
+    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    /** Get the time since start regardless of which way the clock counts */
+    float getTimeSinceStart() const { return m_count_up_timer; }
+
 };   // WorldStatus
 
 
diff --git a/src/states_screens/race_gui_base.cpp b/src/states_screens/race_gui_base.cpp
index 5d69851e8..03606a355 100644
--- a/src/states_screens/race_gui_base.cpp
+++ b/src/states_screens/race_gui_base.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 #include "karts/kart_properties.hpp"
 #include "karts/kart_properties_manager.hpp"
 #include "karts/rescue_animation.hpp"
-#include "modes/follow_the_leader.hpp"
+#include "modes/linear_world.hpp"
 #include "modes/world.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
@@ -457,15 +457,7 @@ void RaceGUIBase::drawGlobalMusicDescription()
 
     gui::IGUIFont*       font = GUIEngine::getFont();
 
-    float race_time = World::getWorld()->getTime();
-    // In the modes that the clock counts backwards, convert the
-    // countdown time to time since start:
-    if(race_manager->getMinorMode()==RaceManager::MINOR_MODE_FOLLOW_LEADER)
-        race_time = ((FollowTheLeaderRace*)World::getWorld())->getClockStartTime()
-                  - race_time;
-    else if (race_manager->getMinorMode()==RaceManager::MINOR_MODE_SOCCER &&
-             race_manager->hasTimeTarget())
-        race_time = race_manager->getTimeTarget() - World::getWorld()->getTime();
+    float race_time = World::getWorld()->getTimeSinceStart();
 
     // ---- Manage pulsing effect
     // 3.0 is the duration of ready/set (TODO: don't hardcode)