Charlie Jelle

Charles "Charlie" Jelle (born 1909, Znojmo, South Moravia, Austria-Hungary (now Czech Republic), died 7th May 1934, Munich, Germany) was an Austrian auto racer.

Jelle was born in Znojmo, and grew up in Graz. In 1932 he moved to Munich, where he opened a Bugatti dealership. First, it drew much attention in 1930 when setting land speed records. In the next three years he has won several victories for Bugatti in mountain races in Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Switzerland. Before the 1933 season, together with Paul Pietsch he established racing team Team Pietsch-Jell. Each had a 2.3 liter car Alfa Romeo Monza before them for the 1934 season increased engine capacity to 2.6 liters. Together they performed in several mountain races, Pietsch has performed in the absolute class with an open racing, Jelle in class sportscars, often both won on the same day. After more victories in the season 1933 Jelle became a known name in the racing world, but his best result in Grand Prix racing was fifth place at the Avusrennen. As a privateer, he often raced against established drivers in factory teams. On 7th May 1934, he was testing his racing car Alfa Romeo Monza on the Ingolstadt highway in Munich, in turn Neuherberge, which lies on the section is often used for setting speed records, killed. The car ran off the road and overturned, whereby he suffered a fractured skull and several other serious injuries. Immediately he was taken to the Münchnsko Schwabing hospital, where he soon succumbed to his injuries. By Pietsch they were intended to attend the upcoming race Avusrennen that was the end of May.