By TIM HIRSCH

of the Sun

Whether you’re all about playing on the sand dune or working your farm, your ATV or UTV will eventually need a little love. And now, with the opening of Sand Quest UTV, owners have a local place to find parts, accessories and service for their rigs.

The passion of husband-and-wife team Doug and Kate Stewart, the new shop opened July 2 in downtown Pacific City at 6425 Pacific Ave. Open Thursday-Saturday and Mondays, 10 a.m.-6, Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the store seeks to become a local source for needed parts and service, negating the need to travel for repairs and parts. The couple are being assisted by AJ and Chelsy Martinez with AJ lending his mechanic skills to the enterprise while Chelsy joins Kate in welcoming customers with a smile in the retail space.

Emergency help, such as rigs stranded at Sand Lake, is available 24/7 by calling the shop at 503-779-4899. As well, Sand Quest offers a free pick-up and delivery service for those within their service area.

Though the couple only moved to the area four months ago, Doug is well acquainted with the fun — and, yes, sometimes, peril — riding at Sand Lake entails.

“I’ll at least take a look at it,” he said. “I’m not going to charge for (emergency) service calls (on the sand). I can’t do any business legally on the sand, but I can go out there and help diagnose (the problem), figure it out, and then, if it needs to come to the shop, I offer that. The shoe has been on the other foot a lot, so I understand that.”

“I’ve been coming to Sand Lake since I was nine years old — pretty much every weekend until I was in my mid 30s — with my mom and dad,” he said. “I love it. I could live my life there. I’ve tried to spend as much time making my presence (felt) on the sand, being active with people, helping them, towing them out, fixing their stuff down there, if I can.”

Doug, who raced motorcross professionally for 28 years, boasts many years servicing motorsport equipment — including nearly 11 years at Hillsboro Motorsport doing everything from service to sales to parts. He also ran his own shop that specialized in building performance engines for six years.

Originally envisioned as serving parts and service needs of those playing in their rigs on Sand Lake, the service options provided have already been proven to pay dividends for farmers, too.

“We’re not just a performance sand dune shop kind of thing,” Doug explained. “We’re definitely more versatile. We’re (currently working on) a bunch of farm quads in the back — work vehicles.”

Inside the retail shop you’ll find basics like batteries, belts, gear oil, and gas cans for keeping your ATV, UTV or motorcycle maintained and ready for fun. They also boast an eclectic selection of apparel including hoodies, hats, riding-themed t-shirts, and necessities like neck gators and riding goggles. 

“We’re getting in some kids’ apparel, too,” Kate said. “We’ve had a lot of requests for kids’ sweatshirts.”

On the service side, Sand Quest offers everything from tune ups to oil changes, diagnostic testing to full engine rebuilds. They also can help customers out with any upgrades they might desire. Already the new shop has been plenty busy in the three weeks it’s been open. 

“I would say 80 percent of it so far has turned out to be service,” Doug told the Sun. “We’ve been having pretty good turnout (and) repeat customers. I can split cases. I can do full rebuilds on motors. There’s nothing that I won’t do, and, if I can’t do it, I have highly skilled people that I take my stuff to.”

And while parking has, at times, been an issue for this location, the Stewarts have that covered as well as they have signed a two-year lease with the neighboring property owner to use that lot for parking for the retail outlet and service shop.

The couple’s storefront also features Inca’s Inc, a retail outlet with Alpaca beanies, clothing, and stuffed animals, an addition they say has been attractive for families shopping together. (Watch for expanded coverage on Inca’s Inc. in an upcoming issue of the Sun.)

For more information about Sand Quest UTV, visit sandquestutv.com or email sxs@sandquestutv.com.

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