Saturday's hot dog contest in Rock Hill benefits charity

When July 4 looms in Rock Hill, that means two things are certain. Between trips to the bank to hold and count his money, Loyd Ardrey from Ebenezer Grill hot dog palace - the place with the giant 12-foot weenie sign that was once stolen, bringing Ardrey fame - will put on his red white and blue Uncle Sam top hat and hold a hot dog eating contest to benefit charity. The only thing Ardrey likes better than money is helping people.

"Ain't nothing if not dependable, me," said Ardrey of his annual competitive foray into gastronomic gluttony. "You give the people want they want. They want hot dogs. And they want a contest. So I give them both. A man of the people, I am."

The other constant surety is Dale Corzine, wireless telecommunications installer and the nicest guy anybody ever met, will be at the contest. He also might be the biggest guy anybody ever met. Corzine stands a hair over 6 feet, and is way, way on the other side of 300 pounds. Corzine will emerge from his truck Saturday for the competition and the crowd will go silent. Corzine's wide smile and wide build will block out the sun. His shaved head will shine in the sunlight, scaring away the meek and those who eat arugula and alfalfa sprouts. Corzine will crunch over the gravel in the Ebenezer Grill parking lot and the faint-hearted will faint. Corzine will belly-up to the table bearing all those hot dogs, flash that smile and he will plan to win.

"He's the champ, nobody has been able to touch him," said Ardrey. "Good eater. Like to get him here lunchtime five days a week. Might be able to buy a yacht."

Other dog eaters may bark. They may bite. There have been skinny college kids and not-so-skinny electricians and two fat former Herald reporters who thought they could whip Corzine. They failed, finding out they were not championship caliber, but just fat. There was one woman who tried and failed. Only Corzine has won the Ebenezer Grill hot dog eating contest. He gets stopped when he is out after all the publicity of his yearly exploits in the newspaper. Often he is stopped at the counter of a restaurant. You can't miss him: The counter cannot be seen.

"I don't show up to come in second," said Corzine of the contest. "This has become my home turf. Saturday, this will be five in a row."

In 2006, Corzine kicked off the first contest that raises money for the York County Cancer Association by knocking down 12 hot dogs. Even in those days, in his first competitive eating, Corzine walked straight past the bathroom scale that was hiding in fright from Corzine anyway, and ate to win.

"A walk in the park," said Corzine of the inaugural contest. "I don't believe in scales, by the way. Haven't got on one in years. Don't plan on it, either."

2007 came, Corzine raised the bar to 13 dogs as challengers melted in the heat. In 2008, he ate 14 and a half dogs, then last year, 15. All his winnings - 50 bucks each year - went to charity.

"I am shooting for 17 this year, maybe 20," said Corzine. "I don't train. I just eat."

Eating to get ready includes a second-place finish a few weeks ago at the Taste of Charlotte's slider sandwich BBQ eating contest.

"But I ate the buns up in Charlotte and the other guy who beat me didn't, so I ate the most," said Corzine.

He even considered trying out for the national hot dog eating contest held July 4 in New York's Coney Island, but still hasn't pulled the trigger on national competitive eating.

"I do have my eye on it, though," said Corzine.

Preparation for Saturday's 1 p.m. foray into his fifth frankfurter photo finish will include a good big breakfast. His son, Hunter, age 8, with a brand-new Mohawk haircut, will eat right next to him. Hunter at age 8, stout - "He's almost tall as me already," said Corzine - is near the size of a mini refrigerator/freezer.

"Eggs, bacon, biscuits, just to lay a good base," Corzine said of Saturday morning's breakfast. "You don't want to eat competitive on an empty stomach. Worst mistake you can make."

And when it is over Saturday, Corzine will go home with his wife and family, invite over some friends and more family, and celebrate the holiday. Because by the late afternoon, he will be hungry.

"All those hot dogs don't last all day, you know," said Corzine. "You get filled up, but it doesn't stay with you."

He will fire up his grill. The fare?

"Hot dogs," said Corzine. "Can't have July 4th without hot dogs."

Want to go?

The fifth annual Ebenezer Grill hot dog eating contest is 1 p.m. Saturday at 1525 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill. It is open to anybody who wants to watch, cheer, holler, lay a friendly legal wager, or even compete. For details, call 803-327-6700.

This story was originally published July 2, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Saturday's hot dog contest in Rock Hill benefits charity."