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Babcock Rail-Mite
Designed and built by John Babcock
The Babcock Rail-Mite was introduced in the Spring of 1950 with an eye toward capturing the inaugural International Model Race Car Association (IMRCA) Mite Rail Championship races scheduled for July 16, 1950 on the high banked 1/12th mile rail track located in San Jose, CA. Finished in 1949, the 4-rail track was touted as the "world's fastest rail track" and hosted the IMRCA Rail Nationals held later in 1949.
Designed and built by John Babcock of Belmont, CA, the Babcock Rail-Mite was built specifically for the IMRCA Mite .19 (Rail) class and featured a low-slung, two-piece aluminum body with a lay-down engine mount and spur gear drive. The cars were available in either kit form or as a complete finished car.
Babcock Rail-Mites were not only attractive, they were fast. On May 7, 1950 Rudy Forrest established a record of 79.64 mph for the IMRCA Mite .19 (Rail) class with his McCoy .19 powered Babcock Rail-Mite at the San Jose rail track. Other Babcock Rail-Mites racing on the San Jose track proved to be equally as fast.
The Babcock Rail-Mite shown in the photos was one of a small number of cars which were actually built by John Babcock and is powered by a rare McCoy .19 "Gold Head" model engine.
