‘Change’ has been the name of the game for Grand Prix Champion Kevin Schwantz’s world-class riding school in 2009. First came the move from Road Atlanta to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, and its challenging, 16-turn circuit – a “perfect place to teach riding skills,” Schwantz says. Next came the addition of Honda CBR600RRs to the Schwantz School’s stable of championship-winning Suzuki GSX-R600 machinery. Combined with these ultra-capable GSX-Rs, the CBRs give students a choice of supersport mount, and give the Schwantz School a mechanical one-two punch that simply can’t be beat. There’s also a new website (schwantzschool.com) that’s packed with information and news – and which will soon include some very cool, and very exclusive, content. The latest change is the addition of a new member to the Schwantz School family – longtime motorcycle journalist and racer Mitch Boehm. “I’ve known Mitch since the beginning of my professional career in the early ’80s,” says Schwantz, “and he’s always done quality work, whether at Motorcyclist, Cycle World or American Honda. He’s a capable roadracer and an excellent communicator, and that’s the combination of skills you want in an instructor. He’ll be an excellent addition to our all-star instructor corps, and we’re happy to have him.” Boehm’s been in the motorcycle industry for most of his life, racing motocross as a kid in Ohio from age 10 and working in the shop that sponsored him. During college in Salt Lake City, Boehm worked for several motorcycle dealers and continued his motocross career, eventually getting hooked on streetbikes while exploring Utah’s beautiful canyon roads. He burned through a GPz550, GS1000S and 500 Interceptor before accepting a job with Motorcyclist in ’85, where he remained for four years before taking a product-planning job with American Honda in ’89, where he helped develop new bikes. Boehm left Honda for Cycle World in ’92, where he was Managing Editor, eventually settling back at Motorcyclist as Editor-In Chief in ’93, a post he held for nearly 14 years. Boehm’s roadracing bonifides include competition in AMA Supersport Nationals, National WERA and AMA endurance racing, local club racing and nearly fifteen years of national and international vintage racing. Boehm’s latest venture is the retro/vintage magazine Moto Retro Illustrated (www.motoretroillustrated.com), which will debut this July. “I’m pretty flabbergasted with the invitation,” Boehm says. “I’ve known Kevin for a long time, but to work with him and his excellent instructors at a destination as cool as Barber Motorsports Park is honestly a dream come true. I’m excited to get started at our upcoming Memorial Day school May 25th and 26th. There are still some openings for this school, so folks who’ve been thinking of doing a Schwantz School should dial up the website and get on down there. We’re gonna have a blast!” Enthusiasts interested in attending the world renowned Schwantz School can click www.schwantzschool.com or call 866.223.5649 for more information, including pricing, machinery, extras, etc.