Ken Murray

President and Lead Instructor of Atlanta Motorcycle Schools.

Ken Murray founded Atlanta Motorcycle Schools (AMS) in 1999. An avid motorcyclist with a decade of experience as a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) instructor in the Georgia program, Ken was directly involved with the rider education of more than 4000 beginning and experienced motorcyclists. His decision to form AMS was based on his belief that many people learn the skills of riding a motorcycle more easily in a one-to-one setting than in a group environment. Although he owns more than 18 motorcycles, when asked which is his favorite, his smiling reply is always, “Whatever I’m riding right now is my favorite”.

JoAnna Murray

Co-founder of Atlanta Motorcycle Schools

JoAnna Murray began riding dirt bikes in 1992. One year later, she took her first MSF course and began riding street motorcycles. Since then, she has broadened her knowledge and experience by attending more than 20 different motorcycle training courses. She received her MSF street bike Instructor certification in June 1998 and her MSF DirtBike School Coach certification in October 2000. JoAnna likes to see others enjoying the sport she loves so much. Especially exciting is her work with youth ages 6-12 who are learning to ride dirt bikes. In 2002 after 24 years in the corporate world, JoAnna began teaching full-time with Atlanta Motorcycle Schools. She is also the owner of Web Cycle Designs, a contract programming and web design business.

Kit Carson

Kit Carson is a life-long motorcyclist who has been an instructor for most of his adult life. In fact, Kit began teaching motorcycle instruction in 1971 when he developed his own teaching curriculum on a military base in Germany. He became a certified MSF Instructor in 1984 and a Chief Instructor (one who is qualified to train instructors) in 1991. To date, Kit has trained more than 6,000 riders and 200 instructors. He has owned more than 20 motorcycles of various brands and currently rides yellow 1995 Buell S-2 Thunderbolt.

Theresa Danbert

Theresa Danberth has been riding motorcycles for almost 30 years, and began teaching with Atlanta Motorcycle Schools in 2001. She received her Instructor Certification from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in the early 1990s, and taught with the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program for nearly ten years. She currently rides a BMW K75RS, and has been a member of various BMW
groups, including BMW Motorcycle Owners of Georgia. She has also participated in numerous motorcycle fundraisers for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Joy Lofton

Joy Lofton began riding motorcycles in the early 80s, after she met her husband Jerome. She quickly drew a passion for riding. Her first bike was a Valentine’s gift from Jerome, a beautiful red 1980 Honda CB650. Her first formal training was in 1981, when she attended the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) “Better Biking Program”, the precursor of today's MSF training programs. In 1994, Joy became an MSF Instructor training across the state of Georgia earning Rookie Instructor of the Year. Her greatest joy is seeing the confidence of new riders after they have taken a class. She owns 3 bikes, her original Honda CB650, Honda GL 1500 Gold Wing, and Honda Super Hawk 996. She is also an Independent Senior Sales Director of Mary Kay Cosmetics full-time after working 20+ years as a corporate executive with a major telecommunications company.

Jerome Lofton

Jerome Lofton began riding motorcycles in the mid-70s, quickly progressing from his first 125cc starter bike to sport and touring motorcycles. Today, motorcycling remains Jerome’s passion. His first formal training was in 1981, when he attended the MSF “Better Biking Program”, the precursor of today's MSF training programs. The value of this training struck a chord with Jerome, who since that time has attended a RiderCourse each year to continually refresh and refine his riding skills. In 1993, Jerome became an MSF Instructor subsequently training hundreds of riders all across Georgia. His biggest thrill is meeting prior students and hearing about how training has helped them enjoy riding more.

Phil Rosenfield

Phil Rosenfield has been riding motorcycles for 61 years. He began teaching as a “Yamaha Learn to Ride” Instructor in 1982. In 1992, Phil became an MSF Instructor and has since taught thousands of riders in the Georgia and Tennessee state programs, Harley-Davidson’s Rider’s Edge program and the Atlanta Motorcycle Schools. Phil rides whenever possible and enjoys the motorcycle journey more than reaching the destination. He is married to an understanding wife who supports his passion for riding and teaching others to ride more safely.

Wally Rowan

Wally Rowan got his first motorcycle when he was fifteen and he rode all through high school and college. After a brief hiatus, he got back into motorcycling in 1995 when he moved to Denver and took the MSF basic course. He then bought a Suzuki DR650 and enjoyed Colorado’s fabulous dirt and gravel mountain roads. Wally moved to Atlanta in 1996, took the MSF basic course again, followed by the MSF’s Experienced RiderCourse. He became an MSF certified instructor in 1998 and taught with the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program through 2001. Wally has had a succession of bikes since his first DR650, but his favorites are the two parked in his garage right now-a 2002 Kawasaki ZZ-R1200 and a 2001 Suzuki TL1000R. When Wally’s not riding, he’s often writing trip narratives of memorable rides that get rave reviews from his riding buddies.

Pete with his Kawsaki ZRX1100—
Tour Guide and Instructor

Pete Tamblyn

Pete Tamblyn’s first motorcycle touring experience came about in the Peace Corps during the 1960s. While with the Peace Corps in Malawi, East Africa, he and four other volunteers sampled the roads of Rhodesia and South Africa, returning along the rugged Mozambique coast. Many of the roads were poor or unpaved, and his TR-5 Triumph Trophy was the best tool available then for the job. Pete has ridden all but the northwestern part of the United States, and been as far south as the Panama Canal in Central America. European travels have included Germany, Holland, Denmark, and southern Norway. Pete has toured in Southern Ontario, including the north shore of Lake Huron, and finally had the pleasure of adding a brief visit to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Pete has designed and led tours for Pancho Villa Moto Tours and Nordic Bike Adventures. Two of his more challenging tour experiences involved showing his favorite part of the World-Appalachia-to one group from New Zealand and another from Norway. Pete’s love of twin-cylinder adventure bikes continues to this day and he rides one of his Honda Transalps when there are roads to be explored.