Lee Odus Sieck
A.K.A. Otis "Fud" Fudpucker
August 3, 1944 - October 23, 2003
Born Lee Odus Sieck on August 3, 1944, at Lady Smith Hospital in Lady Smith Wisconsin, to parents Jens and Jean Sieck. Lee, or as we all knew him by "Fud", was raised in Bruce, Wisconsin, on a 400 acre dairy farm. His mother, Jean, says he was an outstanding child and worked on the farm, even driving the tractor at an early age. He also, was an avid hunter and fisherman, keeping the family supplied with deer and trout.
Fud was an outstanding student, graduating with high honors from Bruce High School in 1962. He attended the University of Wichita in Wichita Kansas where he majored in aerospace design. After graduation, he joined the space shuttle program, working for the government during the Reagan administration. One of his past employers was Rohr Industries in Chula Vista, California. Little is known about Fud's life during this time.
In 1979 Fud started racing in the desert East of San Diego (San Diego County Sports Committee Inc., District 38) Fud enjoyed racing his bike every weekend. During the summer of 1979, the president of the Sports Committee resigned. The members nominated and elected Fud president of the San Diego Sports Committee Inc. in October 1979. He was so sure that this prestigious job would be wanted by everyone that he thought that he would serve only a one year term. That did not prove to be true and Fud remained president while his aerospace career became a dull distant memory.
In 1984 a group of car racers, asked Fud to put on a race for them. That was the start of the Superstition Championship Series. After a couple of years, the Bikes, ATV's and DSL's were pounding on the door, wanting to race. They were soon added to the program. However, to make it safe for both and not have incompatible vehicles on the track at the same time, the bikes stared at 7:00 am and the cars at noon.
While this was going on in the desert, racing at the Mid-Winter Fairgrounds in Imperial Valley started going thru some difficult times. Finally grinding to a halt. In the winter of 1998, the racing committee persuaded Fud to promote an event there. His first race was held in May 1998. The excited fans were treated to a spectacular bonanza of family racing. It was non-stop action for 4 hours.
His love of Baja California, became apparent, when he started promoting races in the Tecate area in the 1990's. In 1999, he was given the "Amigos de Baja" award by the governor of Baja California Norte. He continued to conduct and promote races in the Tecate area up until the time of his death. He had many friends on both sides of the border.
At the time of his death, Fud was still promoting the Superstition races with great success. He was a one-man team doing most of the work himself but with the help of a large group of very devoted race fans and friends. His mother stated that he had a photographic memory and that was evident because he remembered every racer, their standings and if they had paid their fees or not.
He is survived by his mother, Jean Sieck of Bruce, Wisconsin, a sister Jeraldine Glaner, brother -in-law Tom Glander, niece Susie Bendzick, her 2 children, all of Chaska, Minnesota. His father Jens, preceded him in death in 1984.
Lee, whom we all knew as Fud, will be greatly missed by all. He had no local family, but all of us who knew him, know we were his family. Racing and race promotion was his whole life and the desert series will never be the same without Fud. We will all miss the great "jumping" checker flags, the thumbs up for the racers doing good, and most of all the great big smile for everyone.
We all loved you Fud.