Bugatti Queen

Helle Nice was born the 15th December 1900 in a small village outside of Paris.  At 16, she moved to Paris and found work as a dancer, stripper and model which enabled her to buy a house and her own yacht.

Helle was renowned for being a beauty and was never short of suitors including Philippe de Rothschild, members of the European nobility, Jean Bugatti and Count Bruno d'Harcourt.

It was Philippe de Rothschild who introduced Helle to Ettore Bugatti who thought she would be great to add to his team and in 1931 she drove a Bugatti Type 35c in five major Grands Prix races in France and was very successful.   Not only did she compete in Grand Prix races but also raced all over Europe in rallies, hill climbs and the Monte Carlo Rally.  At the end of her career, she had competed in more than seventy races

In 1949, the first Monte Carlo Rally was held since the War had ended and at a party organised to celebrate the return of motor racing, she was accused of working for the Gestapo which although unproven ended her career and was abandoned by friends and loved ones.

Helle died in October 1984, penniless and forgotten in Nice.  A truly fascinating character.