Richard Anderson (born March 14, 1967) is a former American "Old School" professional bicycle motocross (BMX) racer whose prime competitive years were 1978–1986.

Anderson is the younger of what was one of the most potent sibling combinations that bicycle motocross has ever seen. Only the Pattersons, Brian and Brent, whom Richie raced with on the same factory team for seven years, had more titles between them and were more dominant in BMX. His older brother Ronnie Anderson, whose amateur career Richie overshadowed, would become National number one pro with the American Bicycle Association (ABA) and the United Bicycle Racers (UBR) an achievement Richie never achieved after he turned professional.

He is nicknamed "Richie Rich," an allusion to the comic book character Richie Rich and by simple alliteration.Super BMX August 1984 Vol.11 No.8, p. 20 He was most commonly called "The Avalanche". He received the moniker due to being so dominant during the 1980 season (on his way to winning his second consecutive amateur ABA No.1 title) that it was thought no one and nothing could stop him. He was also nicked-named "Mr. Smooth" for his effortless racing and huge natural ability,Bicycles and Dirt January 1984 Vol.2 No.4, p. 49 particularly in speed jumping over single "whoop-de-doos" which are similar to a mogul in skiing (effectively a very large speed bump) while still pedaling (many racers would get the "Mr. Smooth" moniker for their seemingly effortless riding skill particularly over speed jumps, including Eric CarterBMX Plus! July 1994 Vol.17 No.7, p. 36). Even most top pros stop pedaling over speed jumps to keep the chances of crashing to a minimum. However, doing so would be just coasting while a few racers like Richie Anderson kept applying the power, a great advantage. Indeed, his speed jumping skills were featured in a November 1980 article of Bicycle Motocross Action called "Method Speed Jumping" showcasing his abilities.Bicycle Motocross Action November 1980 Vol.5 No.11, p. 116

Racing career milestones

Note: Professional first are on the national level unless otherwise indicated.

Milestone Event detailsStarted racing: 1976 at nine years old at Concord track in Concord, California.BMX Plus! June 1989 Vol.12 No.6, p. 36Sanctioning body: Home sanctioning body district(s): National Bicycle Association (NBA) Region N (Northern California)First race bike: First race result: 9 Novice, second place. He was actually leading going into a turn but was "swooped", i.e. passed on the inside of him by another racer. He vowed to perfect that move for himself, which he did and became known for.BMX Plus! October 1984 Vol.7 No.10, p. 32First win (local): In his second race.First sponsor: Patterson Racing Products 1977. His first sponsor was full factory and not the local bike shop as it usually is with racers that show talent.First national win: Turned professional: January 1, 1985, at age 17.First professional race result: Fourth in "A" pro and Fifth in Pro Cruiser in the 1985 American Bicycle Association (ABA) Reno Pro Spectacular on January 4, 1985, in Reno, Nevada. He won US$90 in "A" pro and US$90 in Pro Cruiser;BMX Plus! May 1985 Vol.8 No.5, pp. 30 & 35 (race results) the equivalent to US$172 in 2007 each (Cost of living Calculator)First professional win: At the ABA Silver Dollar Nationals in Pro Cruiser on January 6, 1985, in Reno, Nevada. He won US$150 or US$286.76 in 2007 dollars.First Junior Pro* race result: See "First professional race result"First Junior Pro win: In "A" Pro at the ABA Dixieland Nations in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 10, 1985.American BMXer April 1985 Vol.7 No.2, pp. 3 & 23 (race results)First Senior Pro** race result: Sixth in "AA" Pro at the ABA U.S. Nationals in Bakersfield, California, on March 31, 1985. He won US$100,BMX Plus! July 1985 Vol.8 No.7, p. 63 US$191.17 in 2007 dollars.First Senior Pro win: In "AA" pro at the ABA Lone Star Nationals in Austin, Texas, on April 14, 1985. He won US$400,BMX Plus! August 1985 Vol.8 No.8, p. 69 the equivalent to US$764.68 in 2007.Height and weight at height of his career: Ht: 6'2.5" Wt:~175-180 lbs. From between early 1981, just before he turned 14 years old, to Mid 1982 when he was 15 he grew from 5'2" to 6'1".BMX Plus! November 1982 Vol.9 No.11, p. 23Retired: 1988 at age 21. The 1988 ABA Grand national seems to have been his last race in "AA" pro or any other pro class since his name disappears from the results tables the following season. He did not make the main in the Grand Nationals. It is possible that a hip injury prompted his retirement.Snap BMX Magazine July 2000 Vol.7 Iss.7 No.45, p. 108

*In the NBL Junior Pro is "B" Pro/Superclass/"A" Pro depending on the era; in the ABA it is "A" Pro. **In the NBL Senior Pro is "A" or Elite Pro; in the ABA it is "AA" Pro.

Career factory and major bicycle shop sponsors

Note: This listing only denotes the racer's primary sponsors. At any given time a racer could have numerous co-sponsors. Primary sponsorships can be verified by BMX press coverage and sponsor's advertisements at the time in question. When possible exact dates are given.

Amateur

Patterson Racing Products: Early 1978-Mid May 1984. After seven years at Patterson Richie Anderson left in preparation to turn pro and as he put it for a "better deal" (it was an open secret that a few top amateurs were being paid by their main sponsor and/or cosponsors). It was the longest sponsorship by far over his career. After leaving Patterson and turning pro this would be turned on its head, with frequent changes of sponsorship due to contractual conflicts and a desire to bring his brother Ronnie on to the team he was currently on despite Ronnie's poor reputation in good sportsmanship and mercurial nature. On at least two occasions while racing as a privateer (a non sponsored self-financing racer) between sponsorships he would show up in the uniform of Patterson Racing Products, his sponsor while as an amateur. This is despite that not only he was not being sponsored by them, the company had been out of business approximately for a year and a half at the time of the second incident at the ABA Gold Cup Championship West at Chandler, Arizona in 1988.BMX Plus! February 1989 Vol.12 No.2, p. 36 The first time this happened was at the October 1987 Lemoore, California NBL national.BMX Plus! February 1988 Vol.11 No.2, p. 24 He did it at least for a third time when he raced in the 1988 ABA Grand National in a Patterson helmet and jersey (he wore grey sweatpants.BMX Plus! March 1989 Vol.12 No.3, pp. 32–33 (photograph) Why specifically it is unknown, but it is believed that the Patterson family was more than a business arrangement that began when he was nine. Indeed, he even says so specifically. This from a December 11, 2005, Vintagebmx.com post of his:

"This is in reply to Andy's Diamond's post. Just to put the "Richie tid bits" straight. Vance sat down with my father. I was on the Patterson team for 6 years. Because of my accomplishments in racing and with Patterson Racing products, they were going to offer me a truck. The truck was NEVER given to me.* Unfortunately, later that season I left and moved on. I still have a great relationship with the Patterson's. They will always be family to me. Hopefully that clears things up. The Patterson's are now running a successful company, AAA Fire Control Systems, in Hayward, CA. Vance is retired and traveling the country with his wife. Brent and Brian both run the company." He posts under his old nickname "Avalanche". Word search for "This is in reply" without the quotation marks to find it quickly.

*The truck in question was allegedly intended for use for his transportation to and from races when flying was unnecessary.BMX Plus! March 1984 Vol.7 No.3, p. 11 In a mini three question interview printed in BMX Plus! Vance Patterson, the father of Brent and Brian Patterson and owner of Patterson Racing Products, seems to have agreed to give him the truck:

BMX Plus!: "I want to ask you about the truck you are giving Richie. What is the deal there? Why are you giving Richie a truck after he's left the team?

Vance Patterson: "The agreement was that Richie was going to stay as an amateur for the balance of the year. I will give him a truck, not based upon this year, but for what he's done in the past."BMX Plus! October 1984 Vol.7 No.10, p. 33

---BMX Plus! October 1984

In a previous interview in the May 1984 issue of BMX Action magazine Richie Anderson denied that the truck was a quid pro quo to stay amateur and agreed that it was a token of the Patterson's appreciation of his years of service:

BMXA: "Is it true that the Pattersons bought it for you to keep you amateur?"

Richie Anderson: "No, it's for all the years I've been racing for them."BMX Action May 1984 Vol.9 No.5, p. 26

---BMX Action May 1984 Zeronine: May 1984 – July 6, 1984. Anderson was co-sponsored by Zeronine at this time as it was during some of his days at Patterson. He raced with a Zeronine uniform on as a Zeronine official Kevin Shepman, who was also a personal friend of Anderson, acted as his agent handling negotiations for potential teams for Anderson to join. Torker BMX Racing Products: July 7, 1984 – November 1984 Skyway Recreations: November 1984-Late November 1985 He turned pro with this sponsor.

Professional