Glitter and Polka Dots

07/09/2026

The Anatomy of a Racer’s Dream 🏁
To anyone outside of racing, a car is just metal. People often say, “Well, insurance will cover it.” But to a drag and drive competitor, a race car is a living, breathing extension of our heart and soul. It’s years of late nights, busted knuckles, and every spare dime poured into a dream. Insurance doesn’t write a check for the blood, sweat, and passion that went into building it.
Over the last two years, Richard completely transformed his Camaro. For our racing friends, here is a glimpse of what was lost:
⚙️ The Powerplant: Full engine rebuild, Texas Speed Chopacabra cam, new main/cap/CAM bearings, and an upgraded high-pressure oil pump.
⚙️ The Drivetrain: Brand-new Quick Performance 9-inch rear end, T56 MAGNUM-F manual trans, Centerforce dual-disc clutch, custom driveshaft.
⚙️ The Suspension: Fully tubular front suspension, 1.5” lowered stance, UMI torque arm & rear tubular control arms.
That list is more than parts. It’s a testament to who Richard is: meticulous, fiercely hard-working, and unwilling to cut corners. His Sick Summer time slips proved it.
Right now, he is applying that exact same relentless dedication to rebuilding his own body.
🚨 CRITICAL SETBACK & MEDICAL UPDATE:
Yesterday, Richard faced a major hurdle. His “good” ankle—which he has been bravely using to bear his weight and transfer out of bed—swelled immensely. The Orthopedic Doctor reviewed the X-rays and confirmed at least two fractures to his Tibia. They are scheduling a CT scan immediately to get a better look.
The road ahead is long, and this setback is incredibly frustrating. But the same man who had the grit to rebuild an engine from the bearings up, and drill out an axle in the pits of Sick Week, is currently fighting to rebuild his life.
Your donations are doing more than just paying medical bills—you are buying him the time and the breathing room to focus on this massive whole-body rebuild.
Thank you for standing by him, for sharing, and for reminding him that his pit crew is right here waiting.
🫶🏻🩷🏁🎀
https://www.gofundme.com/f/racer-in-need-support-richard-anderson

07/04/2026

Yesterday, I went to the tow yard to retrieve Richard’s personal effects from the Camaro. Seeing the car in person was a sobering and terrifying experience. There is no windshield. The T-top panes are shattered and gone. The driver’s side door had to be cut away, and the steering column is completely missing.
Looking at these photos, and standing next to the twisted metal, there is only one conclusion to draw: It is an absolute miracle that Richard is still alive.
We have finally obtained a copy of the official police report, which provides a clear picture of exactly what happened on Route 20. Richard’s dash camera was recovered, and the footage confirms every detail:
* The Crash: An 84-year-old male driving a 2020 Ford Edge westbound suddenly je**ed his steering wheel for an unknown reason, crossing the center line directly into Richard’s eastbound lane.
* The Impact: The Ford Edge struck Richard’s 2001 Camaro head-on. The impact was so severe that despite the police report initially stating otherwise, photographic evidence from the wreckage confirms both of Richard’s airbags did deploy. A third vehicle traveling behind the Ford Edge swerved into the ditch to avoid the collision, clipping the Edge in the process.
* The Aftermath: Richard was driving perfectly within his lane and did absolutely nothing wrong. Yet, while the driver who crossed the center line walked away with only minor injuries, Richard sustained life-threatening, catastrophic trauma that required a LifeFlight transport and multiple emergency surgeries.
Both vehicles were completely totaled.
While we are profoundly grateful to have the dashcam footage proving Richard was completely faultless, the reality of the situation is incredibly heavy. The physical damage to his body mirrors the destruction of the car he poured two years of his life into.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/racer-in-need-support-richard-anderson

06/30/2026

The Wreck and the Reality
Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared this campaign so far. As Richard continues to fight through the earliest and hardest days of his recovery, we want to share exactly what he is up against, and why your support is so incredibly vital right now.
During Sick Summer, while driving his 2001 white t-top Camaro between Day 3 checkpoints 1 and 2 on Route 20, Richard’s life changed in a fraction of a second. An SUV crossed the center line and hit him head-on.
The impact was so catastrophic that even the Jaws of Life could not cut him out of the driver’s side. First responders had to pull him through the passenger side of the wreckage before he was rushed via LifeFlight to a Level II trauma center in critical condition and later transferred to a Level I Hospital due to the extent of his injuries. (From what I’ve heard, the driver of the SUV walked away with only a scratch on his arm).
The physical toll on Richard’s body is devastating. In the days since the crash, he has been in the ICU fighting through a gauntlet of complex surgeries.
Richard is stable, and he is a fighter, but the road ahead of him is incredibly long. The financial reality of LifeFlight, ICU care, and multiple specialized trauma surgeries is overwhelming, and his family’s resources are rapidly being depleted.
We know he has the determination to rebuild his life, but he cannot do it alone. Please continue to share this page, donate if you can, and keep Richard and his family in your thoughts as they face the hardest months of their lives.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/racer-in-need-support-richard-anderson

06/27/2026

06/27/2026

As many of you know, Sick Summer took a massive toll last week. But we need to share a critical rebuild currently happening off the track.
During the route, Richard Anderson (Butch) and his beloved Camaro suffered a catastrophic, season-ending wreck. The reality of this crash is far heavier than a totaled Camaro. He required a Jaws-of-Life extraction from the chassis and an immediate LifeFlight to a Level I Trauma Center, where he has been fighting in critical condition ever since.
The damage report is extensive. Richard is currently fighting through a severely crushed left leg and foot, complex chest and structural trauma, and severe neck injuries that require immobilization. He also sustained significant internal abdominal injuries that will require multiple follow-up surgeries.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/racer-in-need-support-richard-anderson

05/11/2026

It is human nature to want the entire blueprint before we start building. We want the absolute guarantee that our efforts will lead exactly where we envisioned. But the reality is, waiting for total certainty is just another form of procrastination. The path rarely reveals itself miles in advance; it illuminates one step at a time. The most courageous thing you can do when you feel shrouded in uncertainty is to simply take the very next step. Your intuition knows the way, even when your logical mind doesn't have all the details. Stop second-guessing your direction and start trusting your own internal compass.
Shine on! 🌟

What is one "next step" you can take today, even if you don't know the final destination? Let us know below! 👇

📖 Be the Light, Become the Lighthouse
By: Pamela Gullotti
📖 Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/03psmhvR
(Also available online at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart, ThriftBooks, and more.)

05/11/2026

In a world that celebrates the “grind,” resting can feel like a failure. But you cannot pour from an empty cup, and you certainly cannot lead others as a Lighthouse if your own Light is flickering. Big, positive changes require big energy. If you are sensing a shift on the horizon, the most productive thing you can do right now is to slow down. Pacing yourself isn’t about a lack of ambition; it’s about sustainability. Trust that the opportunities won’t disappear while you sleep. They are being prepared for you, and you need to be fully charged to meet them.
Shine on! 🌟

What is one way you are giving yourself permission to “rejuvenate” today? Share your self-care rituals below! 👇

📖 Be the Light, Become the Lighthouse
By: Pamela Gullotti
📖 Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/03psmhvR
(Also available online at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Walmart, ThriftBooks, and more.)