When retired southern California fire captain Shane Porter passed away from cancer in 2022, he left behind his wife, Tigger, his two sons Michael and Tim, and a 1969 Jeepster Commando that he’d planned on restoring with his family. They had worked on the Commando together before Porter’s untimely death, but weren’t sure what to do with the project after he was gone.
Family friend Bob Mauger, who’s also an automotive technology teacher at Corona High School, learned that the family was struggling with the unfinished Jeepster and saw an opportunity to do a good deed while also providing a learning opportunity for his students. "For me, it’s not just about teaching my students how to diagnose and repair vehicles,” Mauger explains, “It’s about teaching them how to be good humans and to give back to the community."
Under Mauger's guidance, the students worked for more than a year, fixing the engine, resolving electrical issues, repairing the cooling system, sealing the transmission and transfer case, dealing with rust, and adding a fresh coat of paint. And then last week, the restored Jeepster, now practically in mint condition, was returned to the Porter family. The Porters were ecstatic. “As soon as I saw it, it was just a dream come true,” recalls Tim Porter. “It was just incredible that they were able to come together as a team and work on it.”