52nd annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest

Earlier today was Muni’s annual(-ish) Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest. What is a Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, you ask? It’s a two-part contest where “amateurs” (non-Muni employees) compete, and a second part where cable car operators compete.

The rules for each part are very different. The amateur competition allows music, dancers, and apparently bribing the crowd with free Giants merchandise. This part takes place on a standalone bell outside the cable car.

The cable car operator competition takes place inside a cable car that was somehow transported to Union Square. This is the main part of the event, and only bell ringing is allowed. I’ve posted videos of the top two bell ringing champions below.

Coming in at second place, here’s previous champion Trini Whittaker:

Here’s first place winner Byron Cobb:

Finally, here’s a few photos from the event:

Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest 2015
Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest 2015
Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest 2015
Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest 2015