Car show benefits Hope’s Door

Local singer’s message hits home

 

This story could be a country-western song: A young beauty from the hills of Tennessee gets married right out of high school and has a baby. But the marriage is doomed from the start because of the young daddy’s carousing, drinking, abusing ways.  In one short year, the marriage ends because the young man didn’t heed his own mother’s advice, “Son, don’t hurt the baby’s mama.” 

 

As it turns out, this really is a song about a true-life experience.  Singer/songwriter Teresa Burgess-Morris penned the words and scored the music.  She has included it on her new CD, Hot Rod Hearts.

 

Teresa said, “I wrote ‘Don’t Hurt the Baby’s Mama’ after I was encouraged to write a traditional country ballad by a representative of Time Warner in Nashville after a showcase.”  She first recorded it as a single CD release and decided to donate a portion of the proceeds to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

 

As a frequent guest speaker on the topic of domestic violence, Teresa has performed her song to many different audiences.  Her mesmerizing clear voice and moving words always left the groups wanting to hear more. So she decided to compile a CD with more original songs – several of her own and some written by her brother including the title song, “Hot Rod Hearts.”

 

When it came time to design the CD cover, she looked no further than her own driveway for inspiration: her husband’s 1971 Barracuda muscle car.

Charles Morris has admired the striking looks of the Plymouth classic from the moment he first saw it as teenager. Teresa said, “He wanted the car when he saw the horror movie Phantasm at a drive-in when he was in high school.” (Note the personalized license plate on the car.)

 

Many years later, he purchased the car of his dreams, although it required seven years of hard work to restore the ‘71 Cuda to its original glory. You can almost picture his eyes glaze over as he talks about the car’s four headlight configuration, penta-star embossed park light lenses, unique shredder grill, fender louvers air extractors, and unique tail light assembly with separate housing.  But basically, as he said, “It all comes down to looks. I like the lines on this model.” And, of course, there’s all that power! After all, there is a reason why we call them muscle cars.

 

The decision to use the car on the CD cover was initially an artistic choice only. But then the couple noticed a more significant connection. Domestic violence isn’t just a woman’s issue; it is very much a man’s issue. So Teresa and Charles decided to combine their two loves – music and muscle cars – to raise awareness about the ever-increasing problem of domestic abuse.

 

Charles was almost poetic in describing how the two ideas intersect. He wrote, “Muscle depicts an era. A common understanding of strength, integrity and respect. As men, we applied those principles to every facet of our lives. Power with restraint was our practice. We worked hard and we played hard. Integrity permeated our work and moral convictions. “We did the right thing, in all that we chose. Anyone can break the rules; it takes discipline to make a conscience choice to do the right thing.” The message to men is obvious: power and strength should be assets for leading your life – not the means for dominating the lives of others. 

 

This month, Teresa and Charles are hosting the second annual, family-friendly Fright Night Muscle Car and Truck Show. Proceeds will benefit Hope’s Door, a counseling center and shelter for families embroiled in domestic violence. The event will be held Saturday, October 16 at the Texas Stardom restaurant, 2390 Parkwood  Boulevard in Frisco (near Stonebriar Mall) from 4 - 8 p.m.

 

If you would like to enter your car or truck, e-mail frightnight2004@earthlink.net. Vehicles will be judged in 20 classes. Classic and custom cars and trucks will compete for first- and second-place trophies in their class. Other awards will include Best Theme, Texas Stardom Choice, and R.I.P. (Restoration in Progress).

 

Pre-registration is $20 (if received by October 13); $15 if you participated last year. Fee is $25 on the day of the show.

 

The public is invited to attend. Guests will enjoy a magician, costume contests for children and adults, a live DJ, and raffles including a weekend at the DoubleTree hotel. Admission is free. For more details, visit savemama.com.