The Oscar Mayer ‘Wienermobile’ rolled into Waynesboro on Thursday. The unique hotdog-shaped vehicle mesmerized children and adults alike as it posed at the Wal-Mart store in Wayne Heights. Two outgoing ‘Hotdoggers’ hosted the event- leading songs and cheers while giving away coveted red whistles to attendees.
The Wienermobile’s unique style has evolved with changing times. The first rendition was unveiled in 1936, and since then several playful models have celebrated the iconic food brand owned by the Kraft Heinz Company. The particular vehicle on display in Waynesboro is the newest (2021) in a fleet of six Wienermobiles that crisscross the country. These national tours started in 1988 and this is their 37th continuous year.
Waynesboro seven-year-old Gregory Shorb arrived wide-eyed to see the Wienermobile with his Mom Ana, Grandmother Joan, and Aunt Becky. Greg immediately posed for pictures on all sides of the giant frankfurter- while eating a normal-sized hotdog- his favorite food. Then, Greg peeked inside the spacious interior decked out in shades of red and yellow. At the end of his visit, the friendly hostesses pronounced Greg an honorary Grill Master and fellow Hotdogger.
The Hotdoggers, Chloe Van Caeseele and Mary Clare Kammer, are the young women specially chosen by Oscar Mayer to host events. They not only entertain visitors, but also drive the giant hotdog all over the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. They drive/host for a year period with 1 to 2 events per day. The pair travels non-stop. Naturally, they attract attention wherever they go. “Every day is like a parade,” Chloe said. Both Hotdoggers said touring with the vehicle was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
When asked about the difficulty driving a large 27-foot long hotdog on wheels, Mary Clare quipped it was smooth sailing since the vehicle was “aero-dog-namic.” Gas mileage was no worry either, she joked the Wienermobile gets “endless smiles per gallon.” Both drivers said the 14,000-pound vehicle handled like a typical RV. Their tour schedule is set 4-6 weeks in advance.
Many people arrived at Wal-Mart surprised to see the Wienermobile and were immediately drawn toward the discovery, snapping selfies and group photos lit by huge smiles. Others came prepared for the 12-6 p.m. event with costumes in tow, taking pictures with the Wienermobile as a colorful backdrop.
One family brought a canine friend who was an immediate crowd pleaser, a wiener dog actually named ‘Oscar Mayer Wiener’. Samantha Runninger brought her daughter Shelby and son Blaize, along with neighbor friend Alex. But their adorable Dachshund turned heads as the friendly 1-year-old pup was dressed in a hotdog outfit and posed for pictures. “He’s the first dog our family ever had,” Samantha said. “We just had to bring him to see the Wienermobile.”
Hotdoggers Chloe and Mary Clare led the crowd singing tunes that harkened back to happy childhoods many decades ago. Everyone knew the words to ‘I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener’. Hotdoggers also sang a unique hotdog-themed birthday song to a child celebrating a special day. Enthusiastic fans gathered around the Wienermobile continuously during the six-hour event, and for a few minutes, left their daily cares behind.
All the allotted 300 hotdogs grilled for the crowd were eaten. But the joy expressed by people of all ages didn’t fizzle out. Next stop for the Wienermobile: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
