Driving a hot dog 90 mph

Every so often you take a picture and then you forget about it and then you find it again and you say, to yourself, "Self, that's a cool picture, or at least an interesting one. Why don't you publish it?"

The photo at right isn't all that interesting from a photography standpoint. There is no strange angle or beautiful light or great composition (the flagpole, for example, comes out of the middle of the wiener). But the subject is pretty cool because it's not all that often that you see a vehicle that looks like an Oscar Mayer wiener parked in West Glacier.

At the time I took the photo I got the names of the folks in the picture, but I've since lost or, more likely, thrown out the notebook, so I have no idea who they are.

In addition, I was late for another appointment and really only had time to shoot a few frames before I had to leave, so I never was able to track down the owners of the rig, either.

Through the wonders of the Internet, however, I was able to track down the origins of the Wienermobile, as the rig is called.

Apparently the cars first started hitting the road in 1936 as a way to promote, you guessed it, Oscar Mayer franks.

The official Kraft Foods Web site, owner of Oscar Mayer, notes that, "Oscar Mayer, the maker of America's favorite hot dogs, cold cuts and bacon, is one of Kraft's billion-dollar brands. In addition, the brand produces convenient complete sandwiches, such as Oscar Mayer Deli Creations complete sandwiches and Oscar Mayer Fast Franks. Not only does the brand have its own song, but it also has its own vehicle, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile — which is always a "hot dog" of a ride."

Billion dollars? Wow. That's a lot of ground pork and beef. Be thankful you're not a cow, or a pig.

But I digress…

Most of what I was able to find out about the rig was on Wikipedia, which isn't always known for its accuracy, because just about anyone can edit an entry in the Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia.

At another Web site, Reedberry.com, I actually had a little tour of a Wienermobile and learned that the rigs are driven by specially-trained drivers, who not only know their way around the road, but also a hot dog (that is not a joke).

The drivers are called "hot doggers."

The one this fella takes a tour in was 27 feet long, 11 feet high and could go 90 mph. It looks very similar to the one this summer in West Glacier.

I can only imagine what it's like to drive a hot dog 90. The only time I've got one to go that fast is when I've mixed it with beer and bad potato salad.

Chris Peterson is the photographer for the Hungry Horse News.