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Muni
holds the annual Cable Car Bell Ringing competition on
an actual cable car. Former California Street Cable Railroad
No. 61, built by that company in 1909 for its Jones Street
Shuttle, is the center of attention of every Bell Ringing
competition. The car acquired by Muni in 1952 as a result
of the City’s purchase of Cal Cable was renumbered
62, and motorized on a truck chassis for parades and Bell
Ringing. It is a shortened version of the California Street
cable cars ( 22'5" vs. 30' 3" ).
VIDEO
Enjoy
a video of Ken Lunardi's winning performance
See
what Mayor Willie Brown has to say about San Francisco
Cable Cars and bell ringers
Click
here for a
look at last year's competition |
It
was back to Union Square,
Geary & Powell Streets, San Francisco for the Muni's
2002 Cable Car Bell Ringing contest. Because of the rebuilding
of Union Square, Muni held the 2001 contest at Fishermen's
Wharf. The October 17 date was later than the traditional
July Thursday, as the railway had to wait for completion
of the Square.
The weather was cold and partly sunny, but the mood was
festive for both the noontime crowd that jammed the Square
and contestants. The crowd was treated to two contests
– a contest to raise funds between non-profit organizations
and the professional (cable car gripman or conductor)
bell-ringing.
The
non-profit organization results:
- Third
Place - Friends of the Children (a first grader rang
the bell).
- Second
Place - California Academy of Sciences (with rapping).
- First
Place - West Bay Filipino Multi Service Center (the
Bessie Carmichael School dance troop performed).
Muni
gripman and conductors contest results:
- Third
Place - Ronald East. Second time performer, two years
with Muni, two on the cables.
- Second
Place - Byron Cobb. 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001 champ.
Seventeen years with Muni, thirteen on the cables.
- First
Place - Ken Lunardi. 1997 champ, twenty-two years with
Muni, eighteen on the cables. Ken is third generation
Muni, both his father and grandfather worked for Muni.
Ken
received $1,000 and the traditional genuine cable car
bell (valued at more than $1,000) from the Friends of
the Cable Car Museum. The bell was presented, on behalf
of the Friends, by board member Gilberto Godoy. The United
Brass Foundry, San Francisco's last foundry, cast the
bell for this occasion.
Other
professional finalists: Frank Ware, 1999 champ, twenty-seven
years with Muni, nine years on the cables; Walter Scott
III, 2nd place - 1997, 25 years with Muni, twenty-three
on the cables; Jimmy Chow first time performer, two years
with Muni, one and a half years on the cables; and Leonard
Oates, first time performer, three years with Muni, two
on the cables.
Three
past champions gave exhibitions: Tom O'Brian (two time
champ), Carl Payne (ten times), and Al Quintana (four
times). Deb Durst emceed. Mayor Willie L Brown offered
remarks while the votes were being tallied.
It
can be truly said a great time was had by all.
Now enjoy the sights and sounds the 2002 Cable Car Bell
Ringing.
A special thanks to Joe Thompson "The Cable Car Guy"
for his postings and reporting of the 39th annual Cable
Car Bell Ringing.
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