Remembering Belltower Hobby Craft

Where the Race Was Always On!

Back in the mid-1960s, tucked into the heart of our community, Belltower Hobby Craft wasn’t just a store—it was the place where adrenaline, skill, and community came together on four tiny wheels.

Owned and operated by Bob and Barbara Sansom, Belltower Hobby Craft proudly opened what was considered the newest and fastest slot car race track in all of Utah. Spanning 104 feet in length, the track was designed for speed, precision, and fierce competition. Local racers could whip around the course in as little as 6.5 seconds, and Mr. Sansom confidently predicted experienced drivers might even break the 6-second barrier—a thrilling benchmark in slot car racing.

Open weekdays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the hobby shop quickly became a neighborhood favorite. Each night, racers of all ages would gather to test their skills and their souped-up miniature cars, hoping to qualify for the Saturday night championship race, where winners competed for weekly prizes—and bragging rights.

Registration was open to all, and the sound of humming motors, excited cheers, and playful rivalries filled the air every evening. It was more than just a race—it was a social hub, a place where kids and adults shared a love of tinkering, engineering, and good old-fashioned fun.

Though Belltower Hobby Craft and its legendary track are no longer here, the memories still race on for those who spent their evenings chasing victory—lap after lap—on one of Utah’s finest tracks.

Here’s to the Sansoms and their slot car sanctuary—a little place with a lot of heart.