Latest news with #OscarMayerWienermobile
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wienermobile makes multiple stops in Northern Illinois. Where will it stop next?
Ill. (WTVO) — The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has been making stops all around Northern Illinois this week. The Wienermobile stopped at a Country Market in Byron on Wednesday, along with stops earlier this week in Dixon and Pecatonica's Memorial Day Parade. A crowd of people was waiting in Byron just to get the chance to see the attraction in person. This is Wienermobile driver Sarah Oney's last tour. She called the job an adventure of a lifetime. 'This was my dream job, I was like, what the coolest thing I could do, and also what is something that I would wake up every day and know that what I'm doing was impacting and changing the world in some way,' said Oney. 'Silly as it sounds, a stupid hot dog on wheels has been the most powerful vessel of joy.' The Wienermobile last made an appearance in the stateline in September 2024. The vehicle made stops at in Freeport and Winnebago. The Wienermobile is one of a fleet of vehicles operated by Oscar Mayer and is shaped like a hot dog on a bun. The original vehicle debuted in 1936 and briefly changed its name to the Frankmobile in May 2023. It then changed back in September 2023. To keep track of where the Weinermobile will be making its next stop, click . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Motor Trend
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
And the Wiener Is...? Oscar Mayer to Race All Six of Its Wienermobiles at the Indy 500
What separates a gearhead from a normal human being? A normal human being sees the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and says 'I'd like to drive that.' A gearhead sees the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and says 'I'd like to race that.' Looks like the gearheads can chalk up a victory of sorts: As part of this year's Indy 500—at which, Oscar Mayer notes gleefully, fans will consume some 30,000 hot dogs—all six Wienermobiles currently in service will race against each other in what the company is calling their first-ever 'meat up'. 0:00 / 0:00 To prepare for the race, which will take place on Friday, May 23 at 2:00 pm Eastern, as part of the pre-show event, each of the frankwheelers has been painted in a unique scheme representing different regional dogs: New York Dog (East), Slaw Dog (Southeast), Chili Dog (South), Chi Dog (Midwest), Sonoran Dog (Southwest), and Seattle Dog (Northwest). How thrilling a race will this be? The Wienermobiles ride on an Isuzu NPR truck chassis, powered by a gas-fed 330-hp 6.0-liter General Motors V-8. Not exactly the stuff of which nine-second quarter miles are made, but when you're foot-to-the-floor in closely matched vehicles, any race will get the ketchup-tinged mist descending—even 27-foot-long rolling hot dogs. Unfortunately, they won't let us drive. The rolling franks will be piloted by the company's drivers, called Hotdoggers. But fans can still get into the action: There's a free-to-enter pool, and point winners will split a $10,000 cash prize. (When they ask what condiment the winning truck will be sprayed with, remember, the press release says it'll be mustard.) You can get in on the action at (remember, i before e). Now, you're probably expecting us to pelt you with a pile of hot-dog-related puns, as we've done in earlier Wienermobile stories, but in our editorial meating we decided to sit our buns down and just be frank. Too many hot dog jokes would simply not cut the mustard. Better to boil down the facts so our readers can ketchup on the details and not fry the story with too much filler. Sorry, folks, but this is how the sausage is made. If you have a beef with us, email motortrend@ We always appreciate your feed-back. Now that that's out of our system—hey, Oscar Mayer, how about letting us drive at Indy '26? We relish the idea!
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Have You Ever Heard of the Excalibur RS Roadster?
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector A unique automotive treasure, the 1962 Excalibur RS Roadster, inspired by legendary American designer Brooks Stevens, will cross the auction block at Mecum Auctions for the first time on May 16, providing a rare chance for collectors to own this one-of-a-kind creation. Originally envisioned by Stevens, renowned for designing iconic vehicles like the Jeep Wagoneer and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the Excalibur RS Roadster project started in the early 1990s. It was completed after Stevens' death in 1995 under the careful supervision of his close friend, Robert Shaw, whose initials "RS" mark the car's designation. Unlike any other Excalibur, the RS Roadster is built upon a specially developed tubular steel spaceframe chassis crafted by specialist Chuck Rahn. Its sleek, handcrafted aluminum bodywork was influenced by Stevens' earlier Excalibur Hawk Coupe from 1961, but with distinctive modern touches. These include Lamborghini Murcielago-inspired scissor doors, power-operated hood and decklid, and a low-profile polycarbonate windshield. Finished in striking Mercedes-Benz Mystic Blue metallic paint, accented with Stevens' signature red, white, and blue theme, the Excalibur RS Roadster blends classic automotive artistry with contemporary innovation. Inside, occupants are greeted with engine-turned aluminum panels, fiberglass moldings trimmed in premium leather, and fixed bucket seats, capturing the spirit of 1960s automotive luxury infused with modern comfort. Under the hood resides a robust 5.7-liter GM V8 crate engine enhanced by Edelbrock fuel injection and custom tubular exhaust headers. A GM 700R4 automatic transmission delivers power smoothly to the rear wheels. Performance upgrades include Wilwood disc brakes, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, and a Halibrand quick-change rear axle, making this bespoke vehicle as capable on the road as it is stunning to behold. The Excalibur RS Roadster is expected to attract significant interest from collectors, reflecting both its unique design pedigree and its status as the final automotive project associated with Brooks Stevens. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Hot diggity dog! Wienermobile rolls through Region, spreading whistles, cheer wherever it goes
It's not every day a 27-foot-long hot dog zips down U.S. 41, but when it does, it spreads a special kind of joy, said 'hotdogger' Bridget 'BBQ' Berens. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled through the Region, stopping at Strack & Van Til in St. John on Friday afternoon. It returned Sunday to the Strack & Van Til stores in Lowell and Cedar Lake before baring east to Ohio. Berens and her co-pilot, Cooper 'CoopDawg' Albert, traveled through 25 states before crossing into Northwest Indiana on the annual Wienermobile tour, where a fleet of giant hot dog trucks hit the nation's highways through early summer. The tradition, while seemingly silly, stems from a time marked by struggle and harsh circumstances, according to Oscar Mayer history. 'The Wienermobile was created during the Great Depression, to bring some cheer and levity to people during a hard time. And now 89 years later we're still out here doing this, it's all a part of that tradition,' Berens said. In 1936, Carl Mayer, nephew of Oscar Mayer, had an outlandish dream: creating a 13-foot-long hot dog car. The car was in a parade through Chicago, where it cemented its legendary status. History was re-lived on Saturday when the Wienermobile donned green streamers to be in Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade. 'Everyone has some story about the Wienermobile,' Berens said. 'It's a special moment, whether it's their first time seeing it or hearing people talk about seeing it 30 years ago when they were kids. Today alone I've heard so many stories from people.' Berens said when it comes to the coveted 'Wiener Whistle,' she discovered it has become an heirloom of sorts to Midwesterners. 'People have told me they still have their grandma or grandpa's whistle,' Berens said. 'It's a tradition from generation to generation, and to be a part of that is amazing.' Grace Kleine, of Merrillville, said when she was a child, her grandma told her about getting a Wiener Whistle and taught her the Oscar Mayer Wiener Jingle. On Friday, Kleine got a whistle of her own and brought along her two rescue pugs, Cici and Ivan – all three dressed as condiments. Tiny T-shirts on the pugs packaged them as ketchup and mustard, with Kleine being the relish of the trio, prompting people to flock to them for photos. Kleine said she had the outfits from last Halloween and figured she'd add to the Oscar Mayer festivities. 'Everyone is so happy to see them,' Kleine said. 'How can you not smile while looking at the Wienermobile? I told my friends, 'You've got to come out and see it, it's a part of American history.'' The Wienermobile itself has gone through many transformations throughout the decades, all while retaining its original hot dog form. The 1952 version of the vehicle is in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, and iterations since have included Ford Thunderbird tail lights, microwave ovens, refrigerators, car phones, big screen TVs and stereo systems that play 21 versions of the Oscar Mayer Wiener Jingle. Different versions of the Wienermobile have also marked the epochs of time. In 2015, The Wiener Rover, an all-terrain, off-roading hot dog on wheels was created, and 2016 saw the invention of the motorhome-hotdog combo called the Wienie-Bago, according to Oscar Mayer history. In 2017, the world welcomed the WienerDrone, an unmanned hotdog-carrying aircraft, and the WienerCycle, a three-wheeled moped. The moped had a sidecar that doubled as a hot dog warming station. Finally, 2018 saw the creation of the Super Hotdogger, a person in a jetpack wearing a utility belt lined with hot dog carrying cases. Today, the Wienermobile fleet travels an average of 500 miles per week. 'People say we're celebrities, but we're not,' Albert said. 'We're just driving around the celebrity.' Each vehicle is manned by two 'hotdoggers' who compete with thousands of applicants in a four-month-long interview process that will come down to just 12 hired individuals. Albert is from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and Berens is from Elm Grove, Wisconsin. Now, they're reaching near the end of their travels in June. 'We've been through 25 states, and I feel like I met the soul of America,' Albert said. 'Seeing people united in kindness and joy over giant hot dogs. We're in a new city every week. It's been an amazing adventure.'
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scranton enjoys good craic with St. Patrick's Day Parade
SCRANTON — The smell of falafel mingled with the sounds of bag pipes, cheers, honking horns and noisemakers, and those who missed the 64th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Scranton are sure to feel green with envy. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and Bazooka Candy made their first appearances in the parade, as did Dunmore native and Defensive Coordinator of the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, Vic Fangio. The South Philadelphia String Band, winners of a 'best string band' accolade at the Mummer's Parade, also marched along Scranton's parade path. In addition, 130 entries, including 10 bagpipe bands, five high school bands, three miscellaneous bands, Irish step dancing groups, twirlers, cheerleaders and more rounded out the day's parade walkers. Ray Lynady, of Clarks Summit — the president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna county and the executive director of the parade — sported a striking sash that pronounced him the 'parade marshal.' He said they start planning the festival in December of the previous year, and 'every type of committee you can think of' helps put the event together, including a bagpipe committee, a finance committee and even a port-a-potty committee. * The Irem Shriners march in the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) * Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a Dunmore native, walks in the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) * The Society of Irish Women participate in the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton on Saturday.(STAFF PHOTO) * The Irem Shriners march in the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) * A bagpiper plays along Wyoming avenue during the annual St. Patrick's Parade in downtown Scranton on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) * Bagpipers kick of the annual St. Patrick's Parade on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton on Saturday morning. (STAFF PHOTO) * Ther Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolls down Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton during the St. Patrick's Parade on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 7 The Irem Shriners march in the annual St. Patrick's Parade in Scranton on Saturday. (STAFF PHOTO) Expand He said over 10,000 participants were involved in the parade on Saturday, with thousands more lining each side of the street along the parade path in downtown Scranton, gathering in front of the courthouse with their own chairs in tow, and snagging a spot in the warm sunshine on the bleachers. Some of the participants even won awards for their efforts, like the Irish Music award, and the Irish Smiles award. A semi-truck towing a band playing on a staged platform slowly crawled past. Children sat in a green wagon, pulled by an adult. Articles of clothing in all shades of green stood out among parade patrons, who held cellphones up and out to memorialize the festive scene. Tyler Connor, 23, of West Scranton, the owner of DaVinci On The Square Pizza and Italian Eatery, dyed his restaurant's garlic knots green to celebrate. Jason Dellinger, who stood beside a stand covered from top to bottom with novelty items — green hats, squawking trumpets, and stuffed dolls — said his family travels from York to Scranton for the St. Patrick's Day Parade every year to sell the toys since before he was born, 'for at least 45 years.' He said his father inherited the business, Dellinger Concessions, from his father. 'We sell St. Patrick's items, noise makers, all kinds of goodies for people to enjoy the parade,' Dellinger said, adding that 'stadium horns' were big sellers, and that the items range from $10 to $20 per piece. Megan Fenwick, a stay-at-home mom set up a make up tent on the corner of the square, providing festive facial accoutrements to passers by. She said she started her operation, Sweet Cheeks, in October of 2024, and often attended events with the intention of bringing a little sparkle into people's lives. 'It's fun for everybody,' she said. Fenwick dusted a green shamrock arch across the eye of Alexis Duncan, 23, and a green and orange butterfly onto the cheek of her roommate, Caitlin Powell, 25, both Psychology students at Marywood University. The two, along with their additional roommate, Khushi Jariwala, who studies Sports Nutrition, said the festivities gave them a chance to have a little fun. 'I'm here to enjoy the parade,' said Duncan, adding she just moved to Scranton a couple months ago from Nebraska for school. The three students said they are in graduate programs and do not get much leisure time. 'There's a lot of school work going on,' said Powell, adding that one of their roommates, Emily Banfield, a Psychology major was missing, because she was required to participate in 'psychological testing' schoolwork. Parade director PJ Lahey said, of all the cities to watch a St. Patrick's Day parade, Scranton has a special edge. 'We are the oldest, the biggest, and the best,' said Lahey. 'This is the 64th annual parade of the current format, but Scranton has had St. Patrick's parades dating back to the 1800s.' According to a talk hosted by the Lackawanna Historical Society, entitled 'Lackawanna Past Times: Scranton's St. Patrick's Day Parade,' the area's St. Patrick's Day celebrations started as early as 1833. A notice in the Northern Pennsylvanian, dated Feb. 28, 1833, revealed that a group of Irish miners were looking to figure out how they would celebrate St. Patrick's Day. 'A decision was made to have a parade on March 2nd of that year,' said Jaime Hailstone, a past Scranton St. Patrick's Day Association President and the featured speaker in the 37-minute video, which was posted to the Lackawanna Historical Society's YouTube channel on Wednesday. The event took place 'somewhere in Carbondale,' Hailstone said, adding that the miners decided to celebrate on Saturday, since Sunday was reserved for attending mass. Nearly 200 years later, the festival brings in all kinds. A group of teenagers studying at the University of Scranton sported matching green shirts that said 'Scranton 2025,' save one, whose green shirt said, 'Kiss me it's my birthday.'' 'It's a special day for me because it's my birthday,' said Anna Kardos, a first year biochemistry major. Her and her friends, which included Kaitlyn McElduff, 18, a first year occupational therapy major, Mary McAlpin, 18, a theology major on a pre-medical school track, and Lindsay Carlucci, 18, of Long Island, New York. The shirts were a coordinated effort, produced by the University to raise funds for the Center for Service and Social Justice. The friends' foray out into the world to catch the parade 'was a group idea,' said McElduff, of Slate Hill, New York. The young women expressed excitement for their first visit to the Scranton's St. Patrick's Day parade. Highlights for the group included 'the bag pipers,' 'seeing everyone's cute St. Patrick's Day outfits,' 'a lot of cute dogs in little outfits,' and 'good music,' but they left the parade early to catch the 'ginger run.' 'It's when a bunch of red heads run,' explained McAlpin, of Philadelphia. 'It's a tradition, apparently.' One of the smartly dressed pups included Esther, the Morkie of Kim Kokinda, who was at the parade for the first time with her son, Thomas Kokinda, and her son's girlfriend, Kenna Bankes. Esther sported pink shades, but otherwise, the three were donned in St. Patrick's green. Jenny Mateo, of Scranton, and her two children, Carlos and Isaac, meandered casually along Linden Street. Though Mateo said she is Spanish, she said she likes the Irish community. 'It's a nice day, and it's nice to have something different to do,' she said. Her son was delighted by his parade keepsakes. 'I got a shark,' he said, adding, 'and a lot of candy.' Parade award winners: -St. Patrick's Theme Award – Azak 347 -Professional Performance – Kost tire 335 -Patriotic Theme – Tobyhanna Army Depot -Historical Theme – FDNY -Irish Cultural Heritage – Gloucester City Society Piper Drum -Most Beautiful Award – DPW -Irish Music Award – Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Band -Irish Costume Award – Steve Shannon -Irish Smiles Award – C.C. Young Insurance -Irish Dancing Award – Double R Twirletts -Participation Award – Penn York Highlanders 115 -Scholastic Award – Wyoming Warriors 417 -Founders' Award – AOH Ladies Lackawanna 303 -Photographers' Choice Award – South Philadelphia String Band 329 -Judges' Choice Award – Edwin P. Maloney Memorial Pipe Band 211 -Scholastic Music Award – West Scranton Invaders 227 -Parade Loyalty Award – Iron Valley Real Estate 345 -Presidents Award – Smurl HVAC
