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Jim Philion
Co-founder, Coronado Speed Festival
Jim Philion is considered the “creator
of the big idea” as it relates to the conception of the
Coronado Speed Festival. Philion, alongside several others,
brought life to the Coronado Speed Festival in 1997, and the
event has been going strong ever since.
Personally and professionally, Jim has
always been involved with cars throughout his life. As an
avid racer in his spare time, he has enjoyed racing among
the best and at various race courses throughout the United
States. He has competed against other vintage racers
including Bob Bondurant and has raced at Lime Rock, Road
Atlanta, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Laguna Seca and
California Speedway courses, to name just a few. He has
especially enjoyed racing at Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen
because of the terrific dedicated road courses with so much
history, and loves to race Morgan’s, Shelby Mustang Trans
Am, MGA twin cam and his own historic stock cars.
Jim has over 45
years of experience working in the automotive industry, and
professionally he has held very prestigious positions within
the automotive industry. His resume boasts the titles of
President, CEO, Executive Vice President, Chairman and
Consultant of various car companies such as Thrifty
Rent-a-Car, Chrysler P.T.G. and Corporation, and Pentastar –
to name a few. Key accomplishments include franchising
worldwide car rental systems with 1,025 locations and $415
million in revenues, executing marketing and business
strategies and working on start-up organizations.
Jim also
volunteers his time with a variety of local organizations.
He has served on the board of directors for the San Diego
Auto Museum, Crohns & Colitis Foundation, Simulator Systems
International, Inc., Motor Club of America, Chrysler P.T.G.,
Inc. and several other worthy and important foundations and
organizations. As a member and one of the board members of
the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Jim was integrally involved
with events and activities leading to the inception of the
First Annual Chrysler Classic Speed Festival in 1997; now
the event is the 10th annual Coronado Speed
Festival, to be held October 6-7, 2007, at the Naval Base
Coronado.
Jim has been married to his wife,
Beth, for 21 years, and they currently reside in La
Jolla, a community of San Diego, California. He is the
father of one daughter, Tami Stoilkovich, and one son,
Robert B. Philion, and is a proud grandfather to Kendrick
Philion, and Teagan Stoilkovich due July 10, 2007. In
addition to vintage car racing, he enjoys motor coaching and
movie-going.
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