Good Will Driving: From Dream to SEMA

A Firebird’s Journey on Route 66

What began as a rusty remnant in a muddy, British Columbian field is now a standout project for Fix Network in Canada and its partners. This November, the unique “Good Will Driving” Firebird restoration project reached a major milestone. After a 3,500-mile journey spanning Ontario to California and then Nevada, powered by industry spirit and Route 66 grit, the car made an epic debut at SEMA in Las Vegas.

A PROJECT THAT NEEDED A NETWORK

It all began last spring, when Daryll O’Keefe, Vice President, Strategic Business Development, North America for Fix Network, acquired a classic 1980 Pontiac Trans Am from Mike Hall’s renowned “Field of Dreams” collection. Far from seeing its condition as a setback, the Fix Network team recognized an exciting opportunity to highlight the collective strength of their network while inspiring renewed enthusiasm for the automotive repair industry. The ultimate goal is to auction the restored Firebird to benefit the long-standing charity partnership between Fix Network and Ronald McDonald House Canada. The project quickly became a collaborative mission, uniting leading partners and talented professionals from across the country to turn a challenging restoration into a powerful symbol of what is possible when an industry comes together for a great cause.

With support from partners like LKQ, NAPA, 3M, Axalta, ATK, Kent Automotive, DT-Tire, and many others, the restoration effort gained remarkable momentum. LKQ provided essential replacement panels, while ATK contributed a brand-new 355-cubic-inch LS engine along with new 5 Speed Tremec Transmission. Teams from sites across the network rallied to tackle everything from fabrication and paintwork to assembly and finishing touches—all working at an impressive pace to make the project a reality.

A DEADLINE WITH HIGH STAKES

As anyone who’s taken on a classic vehicle restoration knows, ambition is only half of the equation. Time was the rarest commodity. Making the journey to Las Vegas for SEMA Industry Week, and catching up with Mike Hall himself, meant squeezing 1,000 hours of work and $100,000 in restoration and upgrades into just a few breakneck months.

From floor pans to plastic trim, many parts were flown in from across the country. Three separate teams worked on the shell, paint, and mechanicals simultaneously. Fix Auto Hamilton Mountain laid down Chromax paint in a 48-hour marathon. By September, only a final frantic week separated “project car” from “roadworthy.” Safety inspection: Tuesday. License plates: Wednesday. Last-minute mechanical work was completed the very same day Daryll was set to start his journey. O’Keefe left directly from the Speedy Auto Waterloo shop, pointing the Firebird west.

“This project showed that with the right people behind you, good things happen, even when the odds say different. For Fix Network and its partners, the Firebird’s SEMA run is not the end of the story, it is just the beginning of giving back.” — Daryll O’Keefe

ROUTE 66: TRIALS BY ASPHALT

The drive to SEMA wasn’t a luxury cruise; it was a proving ground. Over three days, O’Keefe and co-pilot Nicky Woerner, Vice President Business Development and Partnerships, braved everything from fueling headaches near Windsor, to midnight arrivals in St. Louis, to an impromptu run-in with state troopers in Pontiac, Illinois (the car, and its mural photo op, attracted plenty of attention).

There were moments of uncertainty: fuel gremlins, a dash rattle, and nearly running dry in the Arizona desert. Still, the spirit of the journey always trumped the setbacks. Each challenge was met with the same can-do attitude that rebuilt the car, along with support from every corner of the network, no matter how far off Route 66 they may have been.

SEMA SPOTLIGHT & WHAT’S NEXT

After more than 3,500 miles, the Firebird rolled into Las Vegas. A thorough wash and a much-needed dinner later, it shone under the lights at Industry Week, a point of pride for everyone who had turned a wrench, made a call, or cheered from afar. The journey demonstrated more than a mechanical transformation - it showcased what this industry can do when it pulls together for a cause.

Following its Vegas debut, the Firebird returned not to retirement, but to the Fix Network state-of-the-art Calgary Training Centre. Here, it’s receiving the final touches: fine detail work, safety inspections, and tune-ups, all to guarantee that when it returns to the spotlight at the Fix Network - Canada National Conference at the Banff Fairmont Springs in early May, 2026, it will be in show-stopping, road-ready condition to be auctioned off in support of Ronald McDonald House Canada.

A DRIVING FORCE FOR GOOD

More than a restoration, Good Will Driving is a living testament to the power of grit, teamwork, and purpose. “This project showed that with the right people behind you, good things happen, even when the odds say different,” O’Keefe says. For Fix Network and its partners, the Firebird’s SEMA run is not the end of the story; it is just the beginning of giving back.