Against the Clock is a solitaire race where you race against yourself in a rally course complete with time bonuses and penalties, it takes as much skill and favorable circumstances as an actual drive.

The track is split into three parts, and the path is a line of cards. Along the track you try to go as close as possible to the value of each card on the way with the cards in your arsenal, representing your controls. Three piles for three gears with separate boosts and brakes comprise your car's gearbox that you play on the track, boosts and brakes letting you add or subtract your running total by one. You can opt to move to the next card even if you're short of matching the number, though this does incur some penalties.

Matching the current card's value lets you go to the next one unscathed; matching it with one card earns a time bonus. If you have less than the current card and decide to move on, the difference becomes a time penalty, using more than three cards gives you an extra penalty, 16 penalties lead to a DSQ. If you ever bust you get damaged and also incur a penalty, three damages and it's a DNF. 

If you complete the first part of the track, the other two parts have shorter tracks but you have fewer brakes and boosts available for you. If you manage to complete the track your score is your time bonuses minus your penalties.

Like most push your luck games this is best played at a fast pace but with the amount of strategy involved you can't go too fast, rather fitting for a rally. Your cards are limited but so is any room for error, the main tradeoff being between pushing your luck or cutting your losses cause in a way it's better to take penalties than get into another wreck.

Note the types of cards that make up the track as in later parts you'll have more high cards on hand than what the track has while generally the other two piles have about the same number of cards on them. Some card counting is useful but it's mostly a matter of not ending up in a situation where you have no choice but to bust.

A fast-paced and thrilling solitaire for those who like to risk it on every turn.