diff --git a/src/game.ts b/src/game.ts
index 357452f..f3d0b9c 100644
--- a/src/game.ts
+++ b/src/game.ts
@@ -96,11 +96,123 @@ export function installGame(world: World) {
     hud.update(skin.coverage(), blob.modifiers) // coverage() self-caches at 250ms
   })
 
+  // ---- gap-recovery trampoline: falling in the gap jump must cost time, not
+  // soft-lock you under the green slope (straight-line drivers wedged at z≈-16.6).
+  // Max-combine restitution bounces fallers back to shelf height. ----
+  {
+    const tramp = new THREE.Mesh(
+      new THREE.BoxGeometry(12, 0.5, 4),
+      new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: '#FF9500', roughness: 0.6 }))
+    tramp.position.set(0, 0.25, 0) // exactly the open slot between the shelves
+    tramp.receiveShadow = true
+    world.scene.add(tramp)
+    world.physics.createCollider(
+      world.rapier.ColliderDesc.cuboid(6, 0.25, 2).setTranslation(0, 0.25, 0))
+    // Seal the under-shelf cavity: fast racers overshoot the slot and slip
+    // beneath the landing shelf into an inescapable wedge (constant minZ -17 in
+    // testing). Wall is flush with the shelf face, so it reads as its plinth.
+    const plinth = new THREE.Mesh(
+      new THREE.BoxGeometry(14, 2.5, 0.5),
+      new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: '#0A5FCB', roughness: 0.8 }))
+    plinth.position.set(0, 1.25, -2)
+    world.scene.add(plinth)
+    world.physics.createCollider(
+      world.rapier.ColliderDesc.cuboid(7, 1.25, 0.25).setTranslation(0, 1.25, -2))
+    // Deterministic launcher, not restitution: raw bounciness pachinkos off the
+    // shelf's front edge and can still slip underneath. Catch a falling blob on
+    // the pad and set a clean arc onto the landing shelf.
+    let bounceCooldown = 0
+    world.addSystem({
+      update(dt) {
+        bounceCooldown = Math.max(0, bounceCooldown - dt)
+        const t = blob.body.translation()
+        const v = blob.body.linvel()
+        const onPad = Math.abs(t.x) < 6 && t.z > -2.2 && t.z < 2.2 && t.y < 1.4
+        if (onPad && v.y < 0.5 && bounceCooldown === 0) {
+          // High + centered: held-W air control (~24 u/s²) flattens shallow arcs
+          // into the shelf face, so go UP hard and pull toward the slot center;
+          // forward drift only wins after the arc clears the shelf top.
+          const vz = Math.max(-3, Math.min(3, (0.5 - t.z) * 1.5))
+          blob.body.setLinvel({ x: v.x * 0.4, y: 14, z: vz }, true)
+          bounceCooldown = 0.6
+          world.events.emit('blob:jumped', {}) // reuse the stretch feel
+        }
+      },
+    })
+  }
+
+  // ---- race loop: first movement starts the clock, the pink pad ends it ----
+  // Finish pad volume, extended to z -57.2 so a blob bonking the pad's front
+  // face (it's a 1.2-high podium, unclimbable from the floor) still counts as
+  // touching the finish. Mid-air crossings count too — the boot is a legit finisher.
+  const FINISH = { xMin: -9, xMax: 9, zMin: -70, zMax: -57.2, yMax: 4 }
+  let raceState: 'idle' | 'running' | 'finished' = 'idle'
+  let raceT = 0
+  let best: number | null = Number(localStorage.getItem('blobbo:best')) || null
+
+  const raceUI = document.createElement('div')
+  raceUI.style.cssText =
+    'position:fixed;top:12px;right:14px;font:700 20px ui-monospace,Menlo,monospace;' +
+    'color:#0a2540;background:rgba(255,255,255,.82);padding:8px 14px;border-radius:10px;' +
+    'z-index:15;text-align:right;pointer-events:none'
+  document.body.appendChild(raceUI)
+  const banner = document.createElement('div')
+  banner.style.cssText =
+    'position:fixed;inset:0;display:none;align-items:center;justify-content:center;' +
+    'flex-direction:column;gap:12px;font:800 42px ui-monospace,Menlo,monospace;color:#fff;' +
+    'background:rgba(20,24,34,.72);z-index:30;text-align:center'
+  document.body.appendChild(banner)
+  const fmt = (s: number) => s.toFixed(2) + 's'
+
+  let finishHold = 0
+  world.addSystem({
+    update(dt) {
+      const t = blob.body.translation()
+      const v = blob.body.linvel()
+      if (raceState === 'idle') {
+        if (Math.hypot(v.x, v.z) > 0.6) {
+          raceState = 'running'
+          raceT = 0
+          world.events.emit('race:started', {})
+        }
+      } else if (raceState === 'running') {
+        raceT += dt
+        const inFinish =
+          t.x >= FINISH.xMin && t.x <= FINISH.xMax &&
+          t.z >= FINISH.zMin && t.z <= FINISH.zMax && t.y <= FINISH.yMax
+        if (inFinish) {
+          raceState = 'finished'
+          const isBest = best === null || raceT < best
+          if (isBest) {
+            best = raceT
+            localStorage.setItem('blobbo:best', String(raceT))
+          }
+          banner.innerHTML =
+            `<div>🏁 FINISH — ${fmt(raceT)}</div>` +
+            `<div style="font-size:22px">${isBest ? 'NEW BEST!' : 'best ' + fmt(best!)}</div>` +
+            `<div style="font-size:16px;opacity:.85">R / Start to race again — auto in 6s</div>`
+          banner.style.display = 'flex'
+          world.events.emit('race:finished', { time: raceT, best })
+          finishHold = 6
+        }
+      } else {
+        finishHold -= dt
+        if (finishHold <= 0) respawn()
+      }
+      raceUI.textContent =
+        (raceState === 'running' ? '⏱ ' + fmt(raceT) : raceState === 'idle' ? '⏱ ready' : '🏁 ' + fmt(raceT)) +
+        (best !== null ? '  ·  best ' + fmt(best) : '')
+    },
+  })
+
   // ---- fall respawn + debug ----
   const respawn = () => {
     blob.body.setTranslation({ x: course.spawn.x, y: course.spawn.y, z: course.spawn.z }, true)
     blob.body.setLinvel({ x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 }, true)
     world.events.emit('paint:request-cleanse', { fraction: 1 })
+    raceState = 'idle'
+    raceT = 0
+    banner.style.display = 'none'
   }
   world.onFrame(() => {
     if (blob.body.translation().y < -25) respawn()