Wienermobile visits Cottonwood
Last week a number of people saw the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile when it made a stop at Dog Bark Park. Ever wonder more about it? In visiting with the ”hotdogger” ambassadors and drivers of the giant hot dog Frances learned some interesting background information.
This year is the 90^th birthday of the first Weinermobile created by the nephew of Oscar Mayer. Yes, there was a real person by that name who founded the company!
The vehicle is eleven feet high, twenty-seven feet long and eight feet wide. It weighs a little over fourteen thousand pounds and requires no special driver’s license. With a V-8, 6-liter 300 VORTEC engine it still was passed by many vehicles coming up White Bird Hill. Apparently, this hotdog is a flatlander.
 There are six such wheeled wieners currently travelling around the country making appearances at special events, festivals, parades, and the like. The wiener rig that visited Cottonwood is from California and primarily travels the western states. The mobile had come from several engagements in southern Idaho and was travelling north where it was the be in Spokane for a few days helping raise funds for fire relief via special events at Spokane area restaurants. Another stop was the North Idaho State Fair.
To become a wiener mobile ambassador requires a college degree and an extensive application process. Twelve young, personable “hotdoggers” are hired annually for non-renewable one-year contracts. Competition is fierce. This year’s application class was a field of 700 making it through the initial screening until being whittled down to the final twenty-five for in-person live screen tests and interviews.
The bun and hotdog are made of fiberglass. And no, it doesn't carry a single hotdog inside it! A hydraulic side panel with steps gives access from and into the rig. Inside is fitted with airplane like cabinets and drawers where promotional materials, luggage and other necessities are stored. The interior space is quite small with six mustard and ketchup-colored seats. It has all the modern technologies with driver assist cameras, GPS, Bluetooth, and an exterior speaker to play the famous Wiener jingle song!