Hill Country Porsche Club,
2025 Charity Impact Review
Written by Kayla Williams-DiNardo
Photo by HCR Members
Stepping into this role as a new coordinator, I truly didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a community filled with some of the most giving, kind, and selfless people I’ve ever met. My heart has been touched time and time again by volunteers willing to step away from their busy lives and families, share their gifts and talents, and bond with their community.
This year showed me the power of connection, compassion, and teamwork and I am incredibly grateful for every person who made our 2025 service efforts so meaningful.
In 2025, the Hill Country Porsche Club proudly continued its commitment to community service and charitable impact. With a total of 64 dedicated volunteers, nearly $6,000 in donations and participation across 10 service events, our club made a meaningful difference for several local organizations and families in need.
Our charitable efforts this year included the following non profit organizations:
● St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry – Supporting food distribution and community assistance efforts.
● Texas Ramp Project – Building accessible ramps for individuals with mobility challenges.
● Four Tech Sessions in partnership with Owen’s Garage – Empowering youth and community members with hands-on automotive education and mentorship.
● Camp David Burn Victim Event – Providing encouragement and support to young burn survivors and their families.
Impact – St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul Community Outreach Program provides immediate assistance to the homeless, the poor, and the unemployed. Services include emergency food, bus passes, clothing vouchers, and resource referrals.
This year, Hill Country PCA volunteers helped serve more than 3,800 meals—making SVDP our largest-impact volunteer opportunity, touching more people than any other project we supported.
Impact – Texas Ramp Project
The Texas Ramp Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free wheelchair ramps to low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities, as identified by local healthcare providers. Ramps are built entirely with volunteer labor, keeping costs low.
This ministry is especially meaningful because volunteers have the rare opportunity to meet the recipients of their time, talent, and resources. The experience is unforgettable—seeing gratitude firsthand is something that stays with you forever. This year, volunteers witnessed life-changing moments: an elderly woman who had been homebound for two years regained her freedom, and a veteran who risked his life for our country received a ramp that restored his mobility and independence.
Hill Country volunteers are honored to support this mission, helping bring hope, access, and dignity directly to those who need it most.
Impact – Owen’s Garage Partnership
Owen’s Garage is a Christian, faith-based organization dedicated to mentoring and teaching at-risk youth in auto mechanics. In addition, its mentors encourage young people to develop the skills, responsibilities, attitudes, and perspectives needed to become successful, dependable, and community-minded citizens.
In 2025, 17 young attendees participated in our joint Tech Sessions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable insights from Porsche dealership technicians. The goal of this partnership is to inspire at-risk youth to discover their gifts and talents and ultimately pursue rewarding career paths.
Impact – Texas Burn Survivor Society: Firefighter Day at Camp David
Camp David, hosted by the Texas Burn Survivor Society, is held annually in the beautiful Hill Country of Kerrville, Texas. This year, the camp welcomed 69 campers, including children who have suffered burn injuries, and their siblings, offering a space to share and learn from the burn survivor experience.
Hill Country PCA volunteers prepared their cars, drove to Kerrville, and presented a selection of Porsche vehicles for the children to admire, ask questions about, and take photos with. Beyond the cars, campers were exposed to caring volunteers willing to share their time, talent, and resources, providing a memorable example of generosity, community, and encouragement for these young people.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to expand our volunteer opportunities to include the Austin Junior Forum ministry. This nonprofit organization serves women, children, and the elderly in Austin, TX, and Hill Country Volunteers are in for a treat! We have been invited to assist with the beloved Christmas at Caswell event.
Experience the magic of the season as the historic Caswell House is transformed into a festive wonderland—and we get to be part of making it happen. Volunteers contribute nearly 2,000 hours preparing for this major fundraising event, where guests shop for beautiful ornaments, holiday décor, jewelry, and gourmet treats. All proceeds support programs benefiting women, children, and the elderly.
In 2026, we will also begin collecting volunteer reflections—stories about why they serve, what the experience means to them, and how giving back impacts their lives. This will allow us to share the heart behind our mission and inspire others to get involved. ■
HCR Holiday Party,
A Night to Celebrate
Written by Crystal Zarpas
Photos by Edward Doan
HCR Leadership would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Social Chair Bill Foster and all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort organizing this year’s Holiday Party at the Oasis on Lake Travis. Your hard work and enthusiasm made the event truly special for everyone.
We also want to thank those Members and special HCR guests in attendance who donated so generously to the Raffle, Silent Auction, and Toy Drive. Your support allows HCR to give back to the Austin community through donations to our various designated charities. Your generosity was incredible again this year—thank you! ■
Horizons expands to a richer digital format
Written by Alfred Freudenberger
There are many people who love the tactile feel of newspapers, books, and periodicals. For others, the drawbacks can be an issue—namely physical size and weight, newsprint, fixed font size, and the tendency for items to be misplaced or crushed. My wife, Michelle, and I switched to reading newspapers on our tablets years ago, and I also enjoy using my tablet to read Kindle books and periodicals when they’re available in digital format. This has really opened up where (restaurants, hotels, airplanes, and cruises) and when (the kitchen table, the beach, or late at night in bed) we can read—and how many different issues or books we can take along at any time.
During HCR Board of Directors meetings, the topic of changing with the times—and engaging with our younger and/or tech-savvy members—comes up often. That’s where the idea of informal gatherings, in addition to our formal events, originated, and it has been a huge hit. It’s also where the subject of making Horizons available in a digital format was first discussed.
Our first “try” was simply to publish the PDF version, which Edward Doan, our webmaster, did with ease. On the positive side, this allowed anyone who wished to view it online or download it to their preferred device. However, a PDF version of any document is essentially an exact copy of the print edition, including formatting, font, and image size. Navigation is usually limited to a predefined page-to-page path, often with little ability to quickly access articles of interest—or return to where you last stopped reading. We also toyed with the idea of “flipbooks.” Flipbooks are slightly more “book-like” in that pages flip left to right, but they change very little about the experience compared to a standard PDF.
This led us to investigate true digital solutions for publishing Horizons. The platforms available to design, build, and host digital magazines—also known as e-zines—range from free and restrictive to feature-rich, flexible, and expensive (often suitable for major corporations and national periodicals). After a fairly exhaustive search, we landed on a platform called Shorthand. It’s a reasonably flexible system with a nice array of easy-to-use templates for different types of articles and images, at a price that wouldn’t break the budget. The Board approved a limited-duration license to publish a single issue of Horizons earlier this year. The response was dramatic, with hundreds of views since it was first released.
Assuming you’re reading this in the print edition, you might wonder how the digital edition is different. The great news is that the Horizons team does such a brilliant job with photos, writing, layout, and editing that converting it to a digital format requires very little reinvention—and it stays true to the print version. In other words, the digital edition is simply “Print+,” and here are just some of the “pluses”:
● You can read the digital edition on a desktop/laptop, tablet, or phone, and the layout—as well as font and image sizes—automatically adjusts to your device.
● Zooming in and out using standard browser functionality helps ensure visibility is optimal for each individual.
● Images can be included at much higher resolution and/or at a larger size than is possible in print. Since we aren’t limited by page restrictions, we could potentially include far more photos than we can in the print edition.
● Articles can be presented in a variety of ways—from simple text and images to overlays, scrolling image pop-ups, and more as shown in this article.
● Rich media can be included, from audio (such as Carl Rossi’s podcast) to video (such as Steven Tellman’s exciting autocross dashcam).
● The issue index is available from any page, allowing rapid access to any part of the issue. The advertiser list likewise allows quick access to relevant ads.
● Each ad includes a link to the sponsor’s website. In the future, we could potentially offer more feature-rich options to sponsors for additional content.
Overall, the options available in the digital edition are intended to make reading Horizons more immersive, adaptable, and convenient for our members. Thanks go to the Horizons staff for producing excellent source material, and to Janice Daman, digital edition proofreader extraordinaire. We hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to your feedback.
You can reach the digital edition coordinator, Alfred Freudenberger, at alfred.freudenberger.hcr@gmail.com ■
THE VIEW AHEAD: THE IMPATIENT PASSENGER
Illustrated by E.B. Snead - HCR Member
Horizons Advertising Index
PIT STOP
Together let's rid the world of swirl marks—one Porsche at a time.
I don’t remember the first time I saw a car with marred paint. In fact, I didn’t even know what I was looking at, what it was called, or what caused it. My first thought was likely, “This car is covered with spider webs.” Fast forward to today, and I’ve learned a thing or two. That is what I want to share with you. And if you are up to the challenge, together we can rid the world of swirl marks—one Porsche at a time.
I am a car detailer at heart. I love everything about the process: correcting imperfections, adding beauty, protecting the finish, and meeting the people who drive these cars. My cup is full with every project I do. Many of those projects involve minimizing micro scratches, also known as “love marks.” So what causes these love marks? Where do they come from? How do you get rid of them? And most importantly, how do you prevent them from happening again?
The first time I heard someone say, “paint is soft,” I remember thinking, why would a car manufacturer cover a vehicle with a paint or clear coat that is soft? After all, we are talking about a large surface area that is constantly being attacked by abrasive events. Why not make it impenetrable or bulletproof? That discussion is for another day. For now, know this: automotive paint mars easily and often, so it pays to be careful.
Micro scratches are caused by abrasive events. That part is simple. What is not so simple is recognizing when you are committing them. Automated tunnel car washes with spinning brushes are obvious culprits. But what about the time you knew your bucket of wash water was getting too dirty? Or when you used your shirt tail to buff out a random fingerprint? Or when you licked your finger and rubbed off a spot? And don’t forget that time you dry wiped the paint with that not-so-clean microfiber towel you keep in the center console? You get the drift.
If you’ve read this far, you are starting to see the pattern. It’s the small things that add up. And with a little thought and incorporating some of the tips below you can avoid that web of swirl marks the next time the sunlight hits your paint. Think before you touch. Think when washing & drying.
When it comes to washing, my go-to method is a proper hand wash using the two-bucket method. If you’re not familiar with it, YouTube is a great resource. Use a highly lubricating, pH-balanced soap that is intended for automotive paint. We are not talking about Dawn dish soap here. There are many fine car shampoos on the market. I personally like Koch-Chemie’s Gentle Snow Foam, especially for ceramic-coated cars. It is slippery, well-balanced, and best of all, smells amazing. That said, the best product advice I can give is to use what works for you.
Touching your paint between washes is where things often go wrong—and where the biggest opportunity for improvement exists. The big reveal in the fight against swirl marks is lubrication. More specifically, rinseless wash. Rinseless wash has been around for years. The originals include Optimum No Rinse (ONR) and McKee’s 37 N-914, but today there are many more options available. According to detailing expert Yvan Lacroix, rinseless wash is “a polymer- and surfactant-based liquid that is mixed with distilled water that encapsulates, emulsifies, and lifts dirt off the paint.”
We believe in it so much that we give away a free travel bottle, with lifetime refills, with every service we offer. It’s our small contribution in the name of death to the swirl mark.
Keeping this premixed solution in your car along with a clean, quality microfiber towel—stored in a zip-lock bag—can dramatically reduce the chances of creating micro scratches. Use these two together any time you touch your paint, and you are officially a swirl-mark eradicator. The reason for the zip-lock bag is simple: microfiber is incredibly effective at grabbing and lifting anything it comes into contact with. A contaminated microfiber can be just as damaging as sandpaper so protect it in a plastic bag and wash often.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Still, if swirl marks are already present—whether from past habits or a previous owner—they can often be addressed through a polishing process called paint enhancement or paint correction. This work is best performed by an experienced detailing professional. But for the diehard DIYer practice on a junkyard hood first. Burning through your car’s clear coat is not a cheap fix.
Not all swirl marks are created equal. Their depth into the clear coat determines whether they can be safely removed without compromising its integrity. Modern paint systems rely on a finite clear coat layer, and removing too much of it can create bigger problems down the road. You only get one clear coat. Burn through it, and repainting becomes the only solution.
Marring, micro scratching, swirl marks, love marks—different names for the same issue, with many causes both obvious and not so obvious. The key is awareness. Understanding how they occur and knowing that there are ways to prevent them makes all the difference. Lubrication with Rinseless wash and a clean microfiber towel is a great place to start, but it’s only the beginning. There is a wealth of information available online, and a professional detailer with plenty of fine polishing experience can be a good resource.
I hope this article shined a little light on how to keep your paint looking its best and helped elevate your status as a card-carrying car enthusiast. Until next time—enjoy the ride! ■
Beyond Stock
Written by Don Stevens
Photos by article contributors
Mesh-ing With Your Porsche
When washing your Porsche, have you ever found yourself pulling leaves, rocks, or insects out of the large front-grille openings? Have you noticed bent fins on the exposed radiators? Cleaning out the debris is usually just an annoyance, but some owners have faced expensive radiator repairs caused by road debris shooting through wide, unprotected air intakes.
Have you also noticed that most GT, track-oriented Porsches have a mesh covering their front air intakes? Yet just about every other water-cooled 911, Cayman, or Boxster does not have this factory-installed mesh. So why wouldn’t Porsche install these mesh grille covers on all their sports cars? It’s probably not about cost. If cost were the issue, mesh grille covers could simply be offered as an extra-charge option in Porsche’s configuration process. The reason must be related to engineering and performance.
We know that Porsche’s engineers seek to avoid airflow restrictions that affect cooling performance. Porsche’s GT models receive mesh covers because their track use increases the risk of debris damage, and their air intakes with mesh covers are engineered into the car’s overall aerodynamic package. But what about those of us who don’t own a higher-end GT model? We also don’t want to risk a damaged radiator.
Porsche doesn’t offer an aftermarket mesh grille cover solution, but there are third parties that sell grille cover kits. The question is which of these solutions is best for your model of Porsche, your budget, or how handy you are at doing the work yourself. In researching this article, I discovered that Hill Country Region (HCR) members who have installed third-party mesh grille covers generally chose from three categories of products:
- Mesh that is fastened to the bumper using zip-ties.
- Mesh with built-in tabs that lock the units in place after carefully inserting them into the grille openings from the front.
- Mesh that most closely resembles the type installed in Porsche GT models, but requires removal of the front bumper and bolting in custom fasteners.
Here’s what some of our HCR members have said about why they wanted mesh grille covers, why they made their product choice, how they felt about the installation process, and their overall satisfaction with the results.
Michael Znilek (zip-tie installation) says he always wondered why Porsche left the expensive radiators exposed to road debris and bugs. When he bought his 992.2, he researched the various grille cover options available online and selected a brand that uses zip-ties as fasteners.
The primary reasons for his choice were: 1) it did not require removing the front bumper; 2) the mesh fits behind the car’s vanes so it does not affect the car’s appearance; 3) it is made of good materials (powder-coated black aluminum); 4) he thought it looked good; and 5) it was one of the less expensive options.
The vendor provided an informative installation video that explained how to attach the grilles using zip-ties. Working together with a friend, the installation took less than two hours. The kit included a left and right grille, and the second grille went in faster than the first.
The only issue he encountered was that the inside surface of the car’s black plastic vanes is slightly curved, while the grilles are straight. This creates a small amount of uneven spacing on the backside of the fins, but it is not noticeable. Overall, he is very pleased with the results and feels better knowing his 911’s radiators are now protected.
Andres Larranaga (tabbed grille covers) explains that when he purchased his 997.2 4S, he was drawn to the look of the front grille area and how the design allowed for excellent airflow to the radiators. However, those large grille openings also became a magnet for road debris. He grew increasingly concerned about the risk of radiator damage, especially after several PCA friends mentioned having to replace their radiators due to debris flying through the front grille openings. Wanting to avoid that situation, he decided to add grille covers.
He initially considered what some regard as the top-of-the-line grille kit, but changed his mind after learning what the installation involved. That option required removing the bumper, which he was not comfortable doing. Instead, he chose the tabbed grille option because it appeared to offer quick and easy installation, as well as simple removal if needed.
His tabbed grille kit included left, center, and right mesh grille covers. Installation was straightforward, with the grilles easily clipping into place. The fitment and appearance were perfect, and he completed the installation in less than 30 minutes. He is extremely happy with the results, noting that the grilles provide peace of mind and enhance the car’s appearance. He would recommend them to HCR members looking for a quick and easy DIY installation with a near factory-built look.
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Larranaga’s tabbed kit is shown installed on all three front grille openings.
John Brindley (bumper-off install) owns a 718 Boxster GTS 4.0. Based on the quality of other products he had purchased from the same vendor over the years, he chose the grille kit that required a more complex installation. He reviewed online installation videos prior to purchasing and felt that the required bumper removal did not appear overly difficult.
However, after speaking with several friends, he was advised to hire an expert to install the grille covers, which he ultimately did. This added an additional cost on top of the slightly higher-priced grille kit, but ensured the installation was done correctly.
The vendor’s video claimed that the bumper could be removed in 15 minutes, but that turned out to be unrealistic. Perhaps with experience removing dozens of bumpers, that estimate might be achievable. Despite that, the finished product is excellent and looks like factory-built Porsche quality. The mesh grilles are powder-coated aluminum and use the same style of mesh found on Porsche GT cars. The units fit perfectly inside the grille openings and are securely fastened using screwed-in brackets on the backside of the louvers.
Brindley’s bumper-off kit is shown covering five air intake openings.
For my own 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, I chose the tabbed-style covers for the same reasons Andres cited, and because I had seen this type of grille installed on other 718 GTS models. Since my GTS required installing five separate mesh units, the installation took longer than Andres’s. The vendor’s instructions recommended placing tape around the openings to prevent scratching the paint. I tried this with the first grille, but it proved somewhat problematic, as the tape became trapped under the mesh grille rim and was difficult to remove.
For the remaining four grilles, I skipped the masking tape and was able to install the inserts without scratching the paint.
Whether you choose a zip-tie solution, a tabbed insert, or a more factory-style, bumper-off installation, the right mesh grille cover depends on your Porsche model, your comfort level with DIY work, and your desired appearance. What’s clear from the experiences of other HCR members is that installing mesh covers is a practical and affordable upgrade that prevents debris buildup and protects your cooling system without compromising style. ■
Do you have feedback for the Editor? Submit your letters to editor@hcrpca.org
We welcome members’ comments, criticism and corrections. We’ll print what we can, but reserve the right to edit for length and content. If you are an HCR member and would like your photos to be considered for future issues, contact the editor at editor@hcrpca.org. As we continue to make changes with our club publication, we are always looking for new photographers to feature.
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