Philadelphia’s parallel parking scene just got its very own championship—and the competition was seriously tight.
Hundreds of enthusiastic spectators gathered at Headhouse Plaza in Society Hill on Saturday to watch 14 competitors battle for the title at the first Philadelphia Parallel Parking Association Championship.
After several rounds of challenges—including dodging an impromptu Eagles celebration and a snow shoveler defending a parking spot with a folding chair—Mario “One-Shot Mar” Zucca of West Mount Airy came out on top.
“Total bliss,” Zucca said of winning. “It was amazing.”
The artist and illustrator brought plenty of flair to the competition, arriving in a red stuntman suit and opening the hatchback of his 2012 Mazda before the final round. A cluster of balloons popped out, including a gold “1,” which remained attached to his car during his winning park.
Zucca then celebrated with a money gun, spraying fake Philadelphia Parking Authority tickets featuring his nickname into the crowd.
For his victory, Zucca earned bragging rights for a year, a trophy featuring a piece of curb, and $76 toward his next parking ticket.
LaTasha “Tasha” Hall of Northeast Philly and Shafir “Pirate One Shot” Mondal of Norris Square rounded out the finalists. Mondal decorated his car with One Piece decals and wore a Monkey D. Luffy hat.
“I feel great. I loved the energy that people had for parallel parking and the love they had for Philadelphians,” he said.
Nearly 900 people applied for the inaugural championship, created by self-appointed PPPA commissioner Adam Wodka to celebrate excellence in parallel parking. The organization is not affiliated with the Philadelphia Parking Authority.