Relishing the Hot Dog Car Story

If you watch a lot of Dateline TV shows, you’re probably afraid to leave your home. And you’ve also learned to be aware of your surroundings to avoid getting caught in a bad situation. That’s great advice for everyone, especially when driving your car. Be a defensive driver and assume all other drivers will screw up. Many bad situations can be avoided that way.

As for me, being aware means to be more alert.  Not only to ward off evil doers, but to keep an eye out for unusual, exotic, or classic cars.  For example, last night I was taking a side road home to avoid the freeway when a large truck loomed up out of the darkness as I approached. It had a strange, bulbus form and my Dig My Car radar went off. A potential Car Story showing up in the darkness!

Soon, my headlights exposed the bright colors  and shape of something familiar and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile emerged.

Wow! I’m not admitting to taking that photo while following the iconic vehicle but quickly determined I had to get a side view shot. Utilizing my Dateline TV detective training skills, I trailed the elusive 27-foot-long vehicle until it turned onto a side road. As it parked near a hotel, I jumped out to get a clear side view photo of it. Then one from the back.

The driver spotted me, pulled out and parked around the corner. Stealthily, I followed the vehicle from a distance, which would be hard to hide even at night. It was stopped at a road crossing but when I came up from behind, it took off again. Was I being too obvious, and they were aware of me being aware of them??

I went the opposite way and took a different road to park where I figured they would turn in again. Alas, the Wienermobile didn’t turn and continued along the main road. I was able to get the video but when I tried to follow, they had taken evasive maneuvers and eluded me… My stakeout failed, but I collected the video proof I needed.

Seeing the Wienermobile brought back memories of being a kid. We ate a lot of Oscar Mayer hot dogs and bologna sandwiches back then. Nobody knew what they were made of or how they were made. It was the stuff of baseball games and school lunches. Ketchup for hot dogs and mayo for sandwiches. Eat with your hands. Simple food for simpler times.

They also created TV commercials and the famous Oscar Mayer jingle:

 “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener, That is what I’d truly like to be-ee-ee.

‘Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener, Everyone would be in love with me.”

It was fun to see the Wienermobile on the road that night. My slow-motion stake out resulted in some nice photos and a video. And I’m happy to document this car story and free advertising for the Wienermobile in return.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was first created by Carl Mayer in 1936, but the original was scrapped for metal during WWII. New vehicles were created using a Dodge or Willys Jeep chassis in the 1950s. A 1952 model is on display at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan. Newer models were created over the decades and there are six Wienermobiles on the road today. You can apply to be a Hotdogger (driver) or submit a request online to have a Wienermobile show up at one of your car shows or special events.

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