As machines take over daily tasks, appreciation for human skill like parallel parking grows. On Saturday, Philadelphia held its first parallel parking championship, with 14 residents competing before judges and hundreds of spectators.
Contestants included professionals like a bus driver and amateurs like Missy Philips, a teacher with a parking Instagram. Organizer Adam Wodka, 42, created the event to celebrate the art of nailing a tight spot. The competition originated in Pittsburgh, where Dan Leber, 38, started it in 2021, measuring time and curb distance. Over 600 people have participated, and Leber believes humans will always beat self-driving cars.
Philadelphia's version banned backup cameras, emphasizing pure skill. From over 900 applicants, 15 were chosen, and one no-show. Mario Zucca, 46, an illustrator, won the finals in a 2012 Mazda 3, taking home $76 and a curb trophy. The event highlighted parallel parking as a generational art form.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing