Government Acre is a large flat grass area at the top of the Western Cliff at Ramsgate, at the eastern end of Kent.
Used occasionally as a venue for classic vehicle events, it provides a commanding view of the Undercliff, the esplanade road that was one of the country’s top sprint venues in the 1950s and 60s.
Many of the most famous names in straight line sport, and often some from other disciplines, could be seen keeping the throttle pinned while aiming the bike between cliffside and seashore.
By the 70s, sprints were held at less-daunting locations and the Undercliff became an access road for traffic to Port Ramsgate.
Read more in this month’s TCM
