Johnny Eck loved cars. But the fact that he was physically unable to drive them didn't stop him from climbing into the drivers seat every chance he got. Usually it was for a good photo opportunity. One of his first moments of freedom and independance came in the early 1930's. When, after selling enough pitchcards, working at Ocktavecs artshop and saving his money from various sideshows he purchased the the small midget racecar pictured below. He immediately converted all of the foot controls to hand controls so that he would be able to drive it himself. He not only raced them for show all over the east coast, he even went so far as to register the car with the Department of motor vehicles  making it street legal in Baltimore. With a set of plates on the car and a drivers license in his pocket he could be seen ziping all over East Baltimore.

Johnny in his midget racer with Al B. Reese.

Late 1930's

Johnny and Robert

Eck hood ornament

Another pose.