Aha! The source of the time problems is revealed: Windows Time Service. Windows 2000 is trying to keep my local clock in synch with the network domain controller's clock. Problem is, we're not bothering to keep that clock in synch with any external clock source, so it's almost ten minutes fast. Which explains why my machine kept speeding up, it was trying to be "on time."
One can set the time service to access an external clock, if one's network clocks are off, by typing the following at a command prompt: (substitute your favorite clock for the one I've used here, after the colon.) net time /setsntp:ntp2.usno.navy.mil[pb rocks the house, boyee!]