Matt got his 1971 BSA Thunderbolt up and running yesterday, and stopped by at dinnertime. There’s a line in a Lord Peter Wimsey book where Peter produces a revolver, and immediately is upgraded in the eyes of his nephew from “genial uncle” to “Exalted Uncle”, and that’s what this picture reminds me of:

Matt is wearing an old-stock waxed-cotton Belstaff jacket, which I think may have been Bob’s, and of course the correct pudding-basin helmet with goggles.

The whole family comes by it honestly. Here’s a picture of Kate, Bob, and Matt after Bob won the AHRMA grand national championship of the sportsman 750 class in 1987!