Hotdogger Blog

A lot of times us Hotdoggers hear someone say, “I saw the first Wienermobile when I was a teen!” And every single time we’ve been able to say, “You don’t look like your 90!” Then, we see the look of shock when we explain that the very first hot dog on wheels was created in 1936.

Such a case was when I met Alfred McCraw in South Carolina. Proudly holding his precious keepsake photo, he explained that he worked at a meat shop when he was in his late twenties.

Here he is in the 70’s with Little Oscar and the 1968 Wienermobile:

And here he is today with his lovely wife in front of the 2004 Wienermobile YUMMY:

The reason the Wienermobile exists is for making memories. Your love for the big dog keeps us on the road with as much enthusiasm as we can muster (or should I say mustard?)!

In Versailles, Kentucky there’s beautiful tall grasses and farms as far as the eye can see. But suddenly, as if almost out of thin air, there’s stone perched upon a tall hill surrounded by a wall determined to keep out the enemy (whomever that may be).

Of course, I had to examine it more closely. After all, castles aren’t something known to be built on American soil. I drove YUMMY up the long and winding road to the steep entrance where a gate sat. As it slowly opened, I saw the small engraved plaque that read, “Castle Post.”

What lies behind closed doors? See for yourself:

Welcome to Castle Post, a structure that was built in the late 1960’s after a couple had returned from Europe and wanted to keep the European fairy tale alive. Unfortunately, they divorced before the gigantic house had finished being built, and it sat as a beautiful tragedy until the early 2000’s, when a Floridian lawyer purchased the establishment and created it as a hotel and fundraising site. In the beginning, it contained seven bedrooms, fifteen bathrooms, a fountain in the driveway, and a tennis court. Now, in addition it has  twelve luxury suites, a library, game room, music room, dining hall, ball room, swimming pool, and formal garden.

King Atta-Dog and Queen Toppings? I think it could work…

When visiting Logan Street Hot Dogs in Gaffney, South Carolina, a group of middle schoolers came to visit us and see their first Wienermobile. One lovely young lady told me a joke that her grandfather had told her. It goes a little something like this:

“One day, a man was walking along the beach when he stumbled upon a lamp. While he was dusting off the stand that stuck to it, it began to shake and swirl. Suddenly, a genie appeared. The genie said, ‘I will grant you three wishes.’ The man first said, “I wish I was in love.’ POOF! He was suddenly in love with a fabulous woman that appeared next to him. The man then said, ‘I wish I had the biggest TV in the world.’ POOF! A 50 ft. television appeared in front of him. He told the genie he was going to flip through channels while pondering what his last desire would be. When he turned it on, he heard a familiar tune and a Wienermobile driving on a commercial. Without realizing what he was doing, he started to sing, ‘Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener…’ POOF!”

Look at all of those hot dogs!

Whenever we’re in a place that allows us to draw on the wall or hang art, we’re quick to grab markers and start sketching out rhomboids (the shape of the Oscar Mayer logo) and hot dogs. At one restaurant Atta-Dog Adam and I chowed down at in Columbia, South Carolina, we left behind a mark to show that the Class 22 Hotdoggers had stopped by in YUMMY!

While I take pride in my driving skills, I unfortunately cannot claim credit for the beautiful paper bag picture. That would be the work of one Atta-Dog. But have no fear! I suggested he draw the road, trees, and bird

Here’s another one we created at an ice cream store in Miami, Florida:

One of the best perks of traveling the country is meeting so many individuals. You hear their dreams, their life’s pleasures, their love for their family. We’re impacted by their stories and their love of all things Oscar Mayer. One unassuming young boy made all of the difference for me one fateful day while Atta-Dog Adam and I were packing up after our event had ended.

Nicholas, a bright-eyed, brilliant smiling, 8-year-old was watching as we were folding out table, quietly giggling. His mother came up and told us that he has loved the Wienermobile ever since he had first saw it when he was a toddler. Nicholas is suffering from an autoimmune disorder when his immune system is attacking his healthy organs. But, could you ever guess based on Nick’s mood? Never in a million years. I pulled Atta-Dog aside and together we told Nick’s family that we’d love to take him for a ride and have him experience what it’s like being a Hotdogger.

I think Nicholas was a bigger celebrity than the Wienermobile! As we stopped in a gas station to refuel, he was signing autographs!

This young man had more strength and kindness in his heart than I could ever have imagined. After being dubbed “Nacho Dog Nicholas,” he is a permanent member of my Hotdogger family. A true inspiration. Miss you, Nacho Dog!

When Adam and I first united as partners, we met up in Los Angeles, California to kick off The Oscar Mayer Good Mood Mission. The next thing I know, we’re flying to Florida to pick up YUMMY and tell Americans’ that with every good mood they share with us on www.GoodMoodMission.com, we’ll donate a pound of food on their behalf to Feeding America.

Now, almost six months later, over 2,000,000 good moods have been shared with us which means over 2,000,000 pounds of food donated to help out hungry families across the United States! Franktastic!

This truly is a coast-to-coast wiener roast. From sea to shining sea:

Pacific Partners:

Atlantic Allies:

If you’re ever a Hotdogger, that is, a driver of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, you gain an appreciation for certain things that you wouldn’t notice before. For instance, a fire hydrant perfectly proportionate for YUMMY.

There was a sign posted, but it didn’t apply to the Wienermobile. Good thing Atta-Dog Adam and I trained the the world’s largest moving hot dog!

The 2010 Kentucky Derby is the premiere hat scene in the country. It’s where hats make their debut in all shapes, sizes and colors. What kind of Hotdogger would I be if I didn’t get a hat for YUMMY? After talking to several Derby veterans, I learned that nobody makes a hat better than Louisville’s own Dee’s. Boy, were they right. I’d never seen so many glamorous headpieces. After explaining about our Derby dilemma, they immediately grabbed shears and got to work. Less than thirty minutes later, YUMMY had a custom created fashion statement, as did Atta-Dog Adam and I.

We felt very “Derby” with our new accoutrements and were ready to take on our very first Kentucky tradition!

Not even the rain at Churchill Downs could ruin the excitement racing through our heads…or the horses racing on the track!

While traveling with the Wienermobile, I was fortunate enough to learn about the life of one of the best writers in American History, Edgar Allan Poe. The site is a memorial and the original resting place of the beloved and haunted writer.

In honor of The Raven what is undoubtedly one of his most famous works, I have written a parody.

Rave-On
By Torey Toppings

Once upon a Wienermobile cheery, while I pondered, deep and dearly,
Over many a fresh and delicious volume of franks in the store,
While I nodded, just recapping, suddenly there came a snacking,
As of some one gently smacking, smacking by the fridge door.
“‘Tis an eater,” I smiled, “snacking at the fridge door -
A lover of hot dogs, and nothing more.”

Call it a love of kitsch, that is, a love of art created to appeal to the masses, but I couldn’t resist the huge animal sculptures we came across on our way to North Carolina. When you drive the world’s largest hot dog, it’s not too often you come across an object of equal measure (unless you’re downtown near skyscrapers, of course).

Doesn’t it look like the Giraffe is sticking out the top?

Wiener dog owners get so excited to get their photo taken with their family pet in front of the Wienermobile. However, I think that this time YUMMY is a little frank compared to this super stretch canine.

Hamburgers try to the compete with the satisfaction of a hot dog, but this patty just doesn’t cut the mustard.

We’re experienced riders, well, road riders, so we thought we’d try other creatures!

How come he got the bear and I’m on a turtle?