Hot dog! - Wienermobile is rolling into town

Good news for those who relish a classic American hot dog — the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is coming to town. The 27-foot hot dog on wheels will be making an appearance at several Flathead Valley grocery stores Aug. 9 to 11. The Wienermobile that’s headed for Montana is one of six mobile hot dogs traveling the country at any time. Each one is piloted by a team of two “hot-doggers” who spread snacks, smiles and hot-dog puns at more than 50 cities in at least 25 states during their year-long journey.

“We just want to get to as many areas as we can to get a better dog in everyone’s hand,” said 22-year-old hot-dogger Luke Ptizo of Delafield, Wisconsin.

The Wienermobile will stop at Rosauers in Kalispell and Super 1 Foods in Kalispell, Evergreen, Whitefish, Columbia Falls before heading onto Spokane, Washington. At each tour site, visitors will be invited to take pictures with the Wienermobile, sample Oscar Mayer hot dogs and may even walk away with an iconic Wiener whistle. Folks won’t be able to peak inside the famous frank since the vehicle tends to get quite hot when not in use.

“We definitely toast our buns when we don’t have it running,” Pitzo said.

The Wienermobile is hot-dog themed from head to toe with ketchup and mustard seats, a hot-dog shaped dashboard and even a special horn that plays the first line of the quintessential jingle, “I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer Wiener” in 21 different styles.

Despite its size at 11 feet (or 24 hot dogs) tall, it isn’t designed for sleeping.

“It’s not a weenie-bago,” Pitzo quipped.

However, it is designed to catch attention.

Pitzo said watching people react to the Wienermobile is one of his favorite parts of the job. He’s seen folks who drive hours to visit the Wienermobile, and others who share stories of witnessing the iconic car decades prior or simply watching children’s faces light up as they drive along the highway.

The Wienermobile began spreading smiles in 1936 when Oscar Mayer’s nephew, Carl G. Mayer, created the iconic car to advertise the brand in the United States. Although fuel rationing during World War II prevented the historic hot dog from touring the country, it was back on the road in the 1950s, stopping at schools, children’s hospitals and stores. In 1988, the “hot-dogger” program was born, where pairs of drivers, mostly college students or recent graduates, were hired to drive the dog cross-country. Over the years, the Wienermobile has undergone a significant transformation, clicking through at least six different designs and more than doubling its original length of 13 feet.

For Pitzo it’s all about “spreading those miles of smiles” one hot dog at a time.

Ketchup with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile:

Wienermobile Flathead Valley Tour Stops:

Friday, Aug. 9

Super 1, Kalispell, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Super 1, Evergreen, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10

Rosauers, Kalispell, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Super 1, Whitefish, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 11

Super 1, Columbia Falls, 12 to 4 p.m.

Online

Follow the Wienermobile’s cross-country journey on Twitter @Wienermobile, Instagram @OscarMayer, Facebook at Oscar Mayer or download the app, WIENERMOBILE for the latest info on the Wienermobile tour.

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss can be reached at (406) 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.