SANDPOINT — Hobbyists may well rejoice on Saturday when Lauren and Charlie Bisbee open Behind the Wheels Hobby Sports.

It’s a good thing there will be a party just for the occasion. Their grand opening doubles as the first manifestation of the Rally in the Alley Car and Motorcycle show, planned for the future as an annual Labor Day event featuring music, food and custom and classic cars and motorcycles.

“A lot of motor enthusiasts come through Sandpoint and we think its time someone reached out to them,” Lauren Bisbee said. 

Although named Behind the Wheel, the hobby and recreation store encompasses almost all imaginable forms of wheel-based entertainment, whether they be wheels that steer or wheels that roll. The inventory features everything from pedal cars to motorized mountain boards and scooters. Beyond these transporting diversions, the store also carries model cars and airplanes, remote controlled vehicles and even video games.

“We call it hobby sports because we mostly stock items that people form clubs around,” Bisbee said. “For example, we have a group that gets together to fly remote control helicopters.”

The substantial range of items encourages customers to make Behind the Wheel a regular stop. Although video games will enjoy a substantial section in the store, parents dismayed by their kids’ recreational choices have plenty of options just down the aisle to pry them away from the television.

“We’re definitely diversified,” Bisbee said. “We realize that to be a successful business you have to reach a broad range of people.”

And with no other business in Sandpoint similar to Behind the Wheel, they feel confident in its success.

“We already have people knocking on the doors and asking whether we’ll be carrying certain items,” Bisbee said.

Inspiration for the business originated with Charlie Bisbee’s discovery of a ’50s era pedal car at the age of 14. He fixed up the toy, and in the process, gained a passion for vehicle restoration. After working many years as a top Chevrolet mechanic and operating a pedal car store in Seattle, Charles moved with Lauren to Sandpoint. He worked in timber home construction, while she dealt in real estate. With timber homes in low demand, however, the Bisbees decided to pursue their passion for all things automotive once again. Between their annual Rally in the Alley Car and Motorcycle show and the new business, that passion will be fueling a lot of labor. But the Bisbees, undeterred, look forward to the fresh challenge.

 “We’re so excited to enter the business community here in Sandpoint,” Lauren Bisbee said. “We hope to see everyone out there at the Behind the Wheels Hobby Sports opening for the first rally.”