As it Happened: The Archive Edition - The Frank Episode

[Originally published on July 1, 2016]

It`s a vehicle that's bound to catch the eye as it travels down the highway.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is a seven metre long hotdog on wheels. And for Lisa Lepene, it's a dream to drive.

"I can cut the mustard on the road, that's why I have the job," Lepene told As it Happens guest host Geoffrey Stevens in July 1992. She had just finished college. The next step in her education? Hotdog High.

"Hotdog High is a training session in Madison, Wisconsin, for people who get this job. And we start driving a Chevy van, which is what the Wienermobile used to be," says Lepene. "We practice driving the van, then we practice driving the Wienermobile and having a partner stand outside when you have to back up so you don't hit the tail of your wiener on anything."

Lepene says drivers need to watch their buns when driving.

"[The buns] stick out a foot-and-a-half on each side of where the driver sits," she explains. "So when you go around corners or if you're changing lanes, you have to make sure that you don't scrape your buns on another car or on a corner."

Lepene says she loves having a job that makes other people so happy.

"You can cheer up almost anybody's day by showing them a 23-foot-long hotdog."

You can hear our interview with Lisa Lepene, as well as these stories on The Frank Episode:

Archaeologists studying trash on Staten Island find a 15-year-old frankfurter.

Woman discovers her house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

A psychology professor says it's best to be frank in speeches.

Frank Stephens writes a letter to Ann Coulter after she uses the r-word in a tweet.

Frankie MacDonald delivers his weather forecast.

Police constable Frank Wheeler talks about keeping a piece of evidence, a frozen trout, in his home freezer.