HomeEntertainmentWienermobile drivers relish the...

Wienermobile drivers relish the attention

HOLMES BEACH – In these days of conspicuous consumption, a standout vehicle is a must, and one of the most outstanding sets of wheels around slowed traffic while parked in a local resort driveway.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is a 27-foot-long Fiberglas bun cradling a hot dog that seats six in luxurious captain’s chairs with the corporate logo on them. The carpeting is a random design with yellow splotches representing a hot dog’s best friend – mustard.

Elise Johnson and Dominic Ricci are the pilots who make a living making sure everyone knows about their products.

Wienermobile couple
Elise Johnson and Dominic Ricci are enjoying their yearlong assignment driving the Wienermobile. – Tom Vaught | Sun

How did they get there?

“We responded to a recruitment drive while we were in college,” Johnson said. “I was at the University of Texas and Dom was at the University of Wisconsin.”

Johnson said when they were chosen from a large list of applicants, the company signed them to a one-year contract. They serve in one of six zones of the country. In six months, they change zones.

“I’m hoping to get assigned to the Southwest,” she said. “I would like to be in Texas.”

Their presence is vital to local promotional events. People and companies can hire them through their employer, and they appear and talk about their vehicle.

She said they were elated to get rooms in Cedar Cove.

“The beach is beautiful,” Ricci said Wednesday. “We hear it’s going to get cold in a couple of days and this is our day off so we’re going to spend some time there today.”

Despite the extra care they take to get the huge vehicle around in cities, Johnson said it’s a fun job.

“People honk their horns and wave all the time,” she said. “It’s a happy thing.”

“We drove a groom and his groomsmen to a wedding once, and they all loved it,” Ricci said.

What would they do when their year is up?

“I wants to get into the music industry, maybe in Nashville,” Johnson said. Ricci wasn’t sure, but he said he would enjoy this job until it ends.

According to the Oscar Mayer website, the first Wienermobile was made in 1936 by Oscar Mayer’s son, Carl. Over the years, the size changed. One was made taller because the company was making plumper hot dogs at the time. One model has a sound system that plays the advertising jingle in 21 different genres, including Cajun, rap and bossa nova. A Wienermobile is on display in the Henry Ford Automobile Museum in Detroit.

Most Popular

More from Author

Worshippers brave cold Easter sunrise service

HOLMES BEACH – More than a thousand people braved chilly temperatures...

AMICCO postpones Symphony on the Sand 

The Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus...

Online fun at the libraries

Manatee County Libraries presents its Creative Writing Workshop Series on Mondays,...

Floridian Mortgage wins championship

ANNA MARIA – Spring has sprung and winter sports at The Center are coming to a close, with team Floridian Mortgage earning the win against team Moss Builders Thursday night in the adult co-ed flag football championship game. The top two teams in the league matched up in...

Man completes Chamber passport program in five hours

ANNA MARIA ISLAND - The annual Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s Passport Program is a fun way for residents and visitors to the Island to get out and discover Island businesses with a passport offered for free by the chamber. Participants are encouraged to get their passports...

One ARK Foundation raises funds for foster families

live music, delicious food and spirited fundraising as the One ARK Foundation held its second annual “Kindness Matters Extravaganza” at The Cheesecake Cutie & Cafe on March 21. “One ARK” stands for “one act of random kindness” and is a newly-established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by The Cheesecake...

Save our homes

This column should be titled “Save our Taxes,” since that’s what we’re really talking about. However, saving on property taxes is part of the Save Our Homes benefits and portability transfers are another piece of this law. In January of 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows...

 Reel Time: Salon fundraiser meets with success

Salon (noun) - a conversational gathering of notables held at the home of a prominent person. On Saturday afternoon, Suncoast Waterkeeper held its Suncoast Salon fundraiser at the Sarasota home of Anna Maria residents Bill and Debbie Partridge. The event was a sellout and attracted some of...

Temporary paid parking vendors hired

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners considered four temporary use parking permits at the March 21 commission meeting and after much discussion, approved three with stipulations, denying one. Permit applications were submitted by developer Shawn Kaleta for temporary parking lots at 102 Third St. N., 207 Church Ave. and...

Fire department sued over rental regulations

BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving pushback from one rental owner. During a March 19 commission meeting, the district’s attorney, Maggie Mooney, informed the board...

Bridge Street traffic, parking among commission concerns

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was an unusually lengthy, seven-hour city commission meeting that began at noon on March 21, commissioners dove into parking and traffic issues, pickleball and organ donation. BRIDGE STREET ONE WAY? A Bridge Street business owner asked the commission to consider making Bridge Street one...

Scaccianoce new Bradenton Beach commissioner

BRADENTON BEACH – Ward 1 has a new commissioner. The application for commissioner by business owner and former Manatee County records manager Deborah Scaccianoce was approved by the commission and she was sworn in at its March 21 meeting. She filled the vacant seat left by former Commissioner Jake...

Kruse talks beach parking, Island consolidation

HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November. Kruse held a town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library where he answered every question...

Commissioners deny bids for paid parking

BRADENTON BEACH – Rather than partnering with an outside vendor as planned, commissioners are now considering city-managed paid parking lots throughout Bradenton Beach. The city had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Feb. 9 to “Provide the City with a complete parking management and enforcement system...