Motor Racing Outreach’s motorcycle racing chaplain Brent Houston will not be attending any of the remaining motorcycle races for the 2001 season. Houston, a fixture at motorcycle road races from WERA club level to AMA Pro Races, is receiving care for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also referred to as PTSD. A press release issued from MRO’s North Carolina headquarters said that Houston’s condition is a result of the trauma experienced in 15 years of ministry and responding to racing related accidents involving the motorcycle racing community.

Besides conducting chapel services at racetracks, Houston also comforted injured riders and their families, and often visited riders in the hospital and helped them make arrangements for transportation of themselves and their equipment following a crash. Houston also counseled riders and families following fatal accidents at racetracks.

Houston’s tireless work comforting injured riders and family members–and sometimes survivors–often amazed onlookers, who wondered how one man could always manage to shoulder the grief associated with serious racing crashes at events across the country.

Houston also counseled racing officials who were affected by serious or fatal rider injuries.

In happier circumstances, Houston has officiated at the weddings of several racers and racing officials.

The MRO release stated that the organization is committed to providing chaplain services at all remaining AMA Superbike, Formula USA and WERA National motorcycle road races.

Currently, according to the release, Houston is resting at his parents’ home near Orlando, Florida before returning to his North Carolina home. Upon returning to his home, Houston will “be receiving care through services provided by Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee,” according to the MRO release.

Houston will continue to serve the MRO as a consultant until he is ready to return to racing venues.

Those wishing to send cards or letters to Brent Houston can do so to the following address:

Brent Houston
c/o Motor Racing Outreach
Smith Tower, Suite 405
5555 Concord Parkway South
Concord, NC 28027


(Note: The original press release issued by MRO contained the wrong zip code for letters to Brent Houston. The correct zip code is as shown above, 28027.)