The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance
News & Media
June 23, 2009
The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival Announces its New Chairman of the Board
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 23, 2009) – The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival recently announced its new Chairman of the Board. Philip A. Capossela, an active participant since the Festival’s inception, a member of the Board of Directors and a Hilton Head Island resident since 2005, has accepted the role effective as of June 8.
Before moving to the Lowcountry, Capossela spent thirty-four years in the automotive industry first serving as Field Manager of Chrysler Motors Corp. in New York/New Jersey from 1973 to 1976. After his time at Chrysler, Capossela held a variety of positions including but not limited to National Dealer Development Manager, VP of Motorcycle Operations, USA and Regional VP Automotive in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta for BMW of North America (a Charter Sponsor of the Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival) from 1976 to 2006.
In addition to his automotive career, Capossela is an avid motoring enthusiast. He has attended several prestigious events around the world including the 24 Hours of LeMans, Sebring 12 Hours, Monterey Historics, Daytona 500, Lime Rock Vintage Weekend, Goodwood Revival and the Indy 500 to name a few. And, he has owned an extensive number of collector vehicles including a 1974 Porsche Carrera, a 1966 427 Corvette, a 1970 Porsche 911T and a number of BMWs including a 1955 BMW 501 V8 and a 1964 BMW R69S motorcycle. Capossela’s current collection includes a 1936 Ford Cabriolet, a 1960 Triumph TR3A, a 1971 BMW 3.0CSi and 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, of which the Ford and Triumph have appeared at the Concours d’Elegance Motoring Festival in previous years.
“We are thrilled to have Phil accept his new role as Chairman of the Board. He offers a valuable asset to this organization – a combination of a broad business background with a genuine automotive passion – that will help to further push this event forward in the national and international eye,” said Carolyn Vanagel, Executive Director of the Motoring Festival.
Dr. Paul Doerring, one of the founders of the event, will remain on the Board of Directors, serving as the Chairman for both the Driving Young America Charitable Fund and the Automotive Advisory Board.
The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival will be held again this year on October 30 – November 1. For more information, call (843) 785-SHOW (7469) or visit the official Motoring Festival website, www.hhiconcours.com.
About the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival
The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival has earned the distinction of being one of the nation’s signature automobile events. The eighth annual Festival will take place at both The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island, Savannah, GA and at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island, SC from Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 1, 2009. The multi-day event will feature historic automobile racing managed by Historic Sportscar Racing, Ltd., a Car Club Jamboree with 10-15 local and regional car clubs displaying their best representatives, technology displays, motorcycle exhibits, educational displays, ride & drive events from automotive sponsors, a special exhibit of “Life on the Road” showcasing how Americans slept on the road before motels and hotels and, the pinnacle of the Festival, the Concours d’Elegance with 150 cars and motorcycles competing for Best of Show. Motoring Festival Partners include BMW Group, Porsche of North America, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Hargray, the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Savannah Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, Adventure Radio, Celebration Events & Classic Party Rentals. For more information, call (843) 785-SHOW (7469) or visit www.hhiconcours.com.