The Story of Rufford Mill Ford

#ruffordford #nottinghamshire #documentary
We've all seen and heard about Rufford Ford.. it's become a popular place for car spotters and has led to the creation of some of the finest "Fails" we're ever likely to see. However, this rise in popularity has come with some negative side effects and it looks like the Ford is set to close forever.
But what of Rufford Ford... how did it come to be? Why is it here and why is it now closed? We'll answer all that and more in this mini documentary film about Rufford Mill Ford and Rufford Abbey.
We'll also learn about vehicle wading depths... riveting material for sure but it appears many motorists overlook the lack of capability found with every day cars and SUVs. I hate SUVs.
***SPECIAL THANKS TO ‪@bengregers‬ for the additional footage***
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[@AutoShenanigans]

Hello, How the devil are you!? Enjoy a mid week release.. this was supposed to happen ages ago. In this episode there's a patronising lesson on wading depth and the sort of cars you should own. Also, history. Also a ford. Thanks for watching, see you soon! x

[@charlottelarimore9261]

Try find some secrets on the M6 or M80 Or M74 or something

[@sarkybugger5009]

It's midweek madness, I tell you! Boo to closing this road.

[@Aengus42]

During the early days of the build up of the Rufford ford KZbin flap, just as the local hoons realised they could grab their 15 seconds of fame by barrelling through the ford, I posted that if this trend follows the normal path then either someone (maybe one of the many poorly controlled kids at the site) was going to get hurt (or worse) and the ford would be closed, or, the ford would be closed prophylactically, thus engendering a range of comments from "It's just a bit of fun!" to "Maybe they should set mines in the ford?" including "Take a hike fat boy!" so now my prophesy is proved correct and I can go back into training for the longest sentence ever written in KZbin doobly-doos... Keep safe all!

[@norfolkdragons866]

@@Aengus42 I've seen it claimed that someone vandelised the dam at the lake to increase the water flow through the ford, because they'd turned up to film a video in the draught and the ford was only an inch deep. If that's true I can understand the pressure to close it.

[@Aengus42]

@@norfolkdragons866 Yup, agreed!

[@rcnhsuailsnyfiue2]

RIP Rufford Ford 🙏🏻 You and the 11’8” Bridge will forever be a part of KZbin traffic hazard folklore.

[@finleyrood9933]

just found out from a friend why Rufford ford was closed it was due to a biker going through it and almost dying

[@drockjr]

@@finleyrood9933 it's sad. A few speed demon a*holes made it too dangerous for all

[@mikewhitcombe101]

@@finleyrood9933 I mean, how stupid can you be?

[@hycron1234]

typical.

[@daniel_960_]

@@drockjr I mean wreaking hundreds of cars isn't necessarily desirable either.

[@robc5955]

Having watched a number of rufford ford videos what fascinated me was the shear bellendmenship displayed by drivers, warned not only by signs, waves, depth gauges but also swathes of people with cameras - yet in they’d go at full belt.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Bellendmenship :D brilliant.

[@radders261]

I reckon the bellend with the small off-roader coverd in led lights caused this. So many times they drove through at redicolous speeds, turn aroound and repeat. They could have so easily veered off course and ploughed into spectators. It's a real shame but i reluctantly believe it's the right decision by the council. And yes, Bellendmanship. Love it!

[@whyyoulidl]

'Bellendmenship' - a word I never knew I needed in my lexicon, but will happily (shamelessly) plagiarise for use elsewhere 👍🏿

[@darreng745]

"I've got a 4x4and by god I am going to behave like a right arse and drive at high speed through the water regardless of the possibilities that could happen!" That is why Rufford Mill Ford had to close as the risk from the idiots outweighed any possible use that could be thought of as being legitimate when you have people who treat it as a form of macho entertainment. There was also the fact that several drivers actually veered towards the river itself instead of driving straight through the ford and had to reverse backwards. I would also question the pollution caused by vehicles washing off any oil, fuel residues and brake fluids into the river as all of them are poisonous to aquatic life forms especially as some of the vehicles were modded and rather "elderly"

[@_stoatchaser]

Most were wank puffins

[@fontybits]

Memories! In 1975 I drove my company's Moskvitch van - VERY slowly - through a wide ford in Kilmarnock. Halfway across, the engine died. The water was a lot higher than I realised and its force was shaking the van. With water coming in via the doors, I panicked and kept pressing the horn. A man appeared at the other side from his lock-up and shouted, "Put it into 1st gear and keep turning the ignition key." The van gradually "bumped" out of the swollen river and the man dried off the electrics for me. Saved me & the van!

[@uzijn]

Great story!

[@dockkkerr]

Москвич сила!

[@mellowfellow6816]

So sad to hear of George Saville's passing. My condolences to the family

[@seriousgameofficial]

lmfao

[@NobleDistortion]

I'm gutted I missed his funeral

[@TheTraveller20081]

I'm sure there's an element of understatement there, too. In his portrait he's shown in fighting kit and he 'sadly passed away' in 1644, which was therefore during the Civil War.

[@jetteraismabash4186]

I didn't even know he was ill

[@dopiaza2006]

Time is a great healer

[@hammyh1165]

Shame for the café at the mill , they're going to lose a lot of money with the crowds gone and it now being a dead end road.

[@stuartlogan3475]

And for the parents who get 30 minutes peace whilst the kids watch the goings on.

[@CrusaderSports250]

All those that complained should now subsidise the cafe to keep it open as the cost of shutting the road.

[@AdrianNelson1507]

Ever since my beloved totalled my 6 month old car in what could only be described as an enthusiastic puddle I treat all running water with the nervousness of a naked man climbing a barbed wire fence

[@sw6188]

I feel your trepidation. I killed my car trying to traverse a body of water which didn't appear very deep at all, only to find out it was. This is despite the fact that I am an experienced 4WD operator and the first thing you learn is "When crossing any body of water, get out and walk it first to see how deep it is". I was looking at how far up the fence the water was and didn't take into account there was a pronounced dip in the road near the middle.

[@8bitwiz_]

As they say here in central Texas where we have a lot of low-water crossings that only flood infrequently during extreme rains, "Turn around, don't drown". It doesn't take much to float your tires off the road, and any current will then proceed to take you on a wonderful river cruise. Minus the wonderful part, that is.

[@chriscohlmeyer4735]

And you could get a nasty surprise if back current undermines the pavement making a big drop off hidden under the water.

[@isladurrant2015]

Wow! I ignorantly thought Texas was dry/desertly place! ... maybe you get occasional wets? Like Australia and Africa where qadis flood? Erm, UK is always wet, except 2 days in summer! ... it dips up and down and has rivers flowing through it, hence "ford" being a river crossing and famous for bridge builders. Every feckin winter I have to assess if my small city car can pass flooded roads, oncoming HGVs and Land Rovers often flash their lights and hazards to give me a clue, "turn around" they say, but I like to look for myself...

[@user-op8fg3ny3j]

@@derektaylor2941 *main

[@goclunker]

@@derektaylor2941 texans are weetodds

[@goclunker]

@@isladurrant2015 tornadoes…massive thunderstorms…

[@andrewjones-productions]

In the early days, it was rather entertaining watching people incorrectly tackle the ford. Then as the crowds became ever larger and seeing some very risky situations, both by drivers and pedestrians, that could have escalated badly quickly, I also felt things had gone well over the top. Very few fords exist nowadays so it was nice to see one still in existence. A shame really, but I think that the local authorities have done the right thing. People were given an inch and took a yard.

[@xr6lad]

If local authorities were doing the right thing they would have installed bollards down the Left side long ago and even raised it slightly with a culvert under for the average flow and it would only ever flow over the road during storms (when it would be closed)

[@JamesWilson-gw2ij]

@@xr6lad you talk sense. Shame your county councillors have shit for brains 😮

[@isladurrant2015]

There's plenty of fords left.

[@commanderspock5983]

Local authorities didn't do the right thing, you can see people were having harmless fun here, children would stand on the wooden bridge waiting to be splashed and they loved it, same with the spectators watching people ruin there cars, no one has been harmed or hurt, this is just another hit In a long list of dry wokeness and correctness killing everything, it's not a matter of something being risky anymore, it's almost like the police are out looking for people having fun and then go after them, same thing is happening at car shows now, the Police stand there with clipboards taking the number plates of people who rev there engine a little to hard 😂... Its utterly pathetic all of it, and the police need to focus on tackling crime, not tackling people having fun at events.

[@Jesus_Iced]

There are loads of fords here in Devon

[@tee_m]

You forgot about the hidden sliproad up the river.

[@David_Crayford]

And the service station that was going to be built but wasn't. But then it was but it was built somewhere else.

[@TesterAnimal1]

Cycling club run used to go through there all the time. Of course I never went through the water. Some people did when there was a drought on.

[@FatNFurious]

"you people are the worst" I laughed so hard at that comment. Thanks for the concise update, another brilliant video.

[@plxton]

I live in the village right next to Rufford Ford and never thought to recommend the spot to you. The site was becoming beyond dangerous and it's honestly incredible that no pedestrians were killed following recent events there. When I was a child it was never deep and it was very rare to see a vehicle go through. The Council's decision to close the ford for now is the wisest choice. Sad for the kids watching the splashes, but better that the sights seen on weekends didn't get worse and lead to serious injury worse than that of the motorcyclist.

[@burgersnchips]

Probably because in the past the level of the water in the lake was actually managed via the sluice gate. Now they leave it full all the time so at the first drizzle of rain it overflows the dam and overspill weir, consequently overflowing the Ford and messing everything up downstream. I'm local too, have never seen it not full even in long term drought conditions.

[@pazera66]

Maybe no one was injured because it was not dangerous?

[@dougerrohmer]

Oh, don't worry about the motorcyclist. They should all be registered organ donors, so no biggy of they die here or anywhere else. Think of the ford as an organ harvesting site.

[@craigh2299]

@@pazera66 people were injured

[@pazera66]

@@craigh2299 Nope, never happend

[@532bluepeter1]

Thank you very much for making this video. I have seen a fair few videos of Rufford Ford and your explanation has thoroughly scratched an itch.

[@MrGreatplum]

Karen waggon! 😆 I was obsessed with the sheer number of BMWs and sprinter vans that used to die in this Ford!

[@RichieReportsUK]

Even larger vehicles such as bin lorries & Luton vans seemed to succumb to a watery demise! The best ones are when full size farm tractors go through at full speed, hell of a splash!

[@athenaGSD77]

BMW are the worst😅

[@biggor1973]

That is because cars with sporting ambitions like bavarian BMW have air intake mounted in lower area of engine bay for sucking colder air to gain more power from colder, denser air. Ordinary cars have air intake mounted higher in engine bay so they are more protected from sucking water instead of air and hydrolocking their engines.

[@sixstringedthing]

Exactly the kind of video that I didn't know I needed on a hot and humid Boxing Day evening in Sydney, the drone footage of the Abbey looked invitingly damp and chilly. Greatly enjoyed the subtle and not-so-subtle humour in this, new sub here. Have a happy new year!

[@jdmsnowmonkey7913]

Ironically the Aygo/107/C1 trio (both old shape and new shape) do surprisingly well at these fords - I gather it's since the engine (and, crucially, intake) is placed relatively high and slightly back in the engine bay. There was a famous clip of a modern red Aygo literally floating through the ford then making it out the other side, still running.

[@MaxMax-th7uz]

BMW and Mercedes’ sprinter could do the same ! 🤫

[@dougle03]

@@MaxMax-th7uz Not according to the number of BMW's filmed being dragged out of the ford....

[@burgersnchips]

Previously owned a C1 (diesel) and yes the intake was right on top of the engine. Horrible car though.

[@DaveLowe28]

Light as a feather and a solid small engine. You've only got to watch Honda C90's going through rivers to realise that bigger doesn't mean better in the engine world.

[@djdondatta2784]

@@MaxMax-th7uz i think u haven't watched enough videos. Those two brands plus audis didn't make it. 😂

[@pluxauag7555]

This is technically a Public Information Film, excellent, never knew that about wading depth. I avoided it when I had a drive around there in the mid 2000's but what a beautiful place. Awesome video. Thumbs Up +1

[@z00h]

"This is technically a Public Information Film, excellent, never knew that about wading depth." you can't be serious n ting

[@TheMegahusky]

@@z00h they are probably a newbie or don't read the handbook.

[@rogerpearson9081]

Wading depth probably means nice and steady, not water over the bonnet or torn bodywork. Lots of idiots trying to be heroes and ending up zeroes especially the invulnerable 4WD idiots.

[@suncell2002]

He forgot to mention wading plugs!🙂

[@mell_gif]

Two vids in a week, you'd almost think it's Christmas 😄😄

[@JasonLianneMac]

There’s a wonderful new invention called culverts. The council should look into it. But seriously, thanks for the video. I’ve often wondered what the local area looked like and what lead to the water crossing being necessary.

[@mildsalsa6697]

people can allready just drive around the ford a culvert might ruin the look of a nice river

[@dte2007]

Absolutely brilliant! Keep up with the videos!! Howling 🤣

[@psp0guy]

I approve of this video purely due to your SUV opinion piece

[@whyyoulidl]

+1

[@jca111]

The moment I saw a few "Auditors" there arguing and egging people to go through, I knew it would close within a few weeks.

[@madgebishop5409]

🤣yeah i spotted the Auditors there, it was the beginning of the end when that lot show up

[@paulspyker3749]

Auto Shenanigans did a video as to why it closed, you should watch it. The facts are not manipulated nor does he deceive for a false narrative.

[@RichieReportsUK]

@@madgebishop5409 PJ Audits was a regular there (the guy with the dreadlocks).

[@leeallen1407]

You mean PJ Audits.....yep he is the reason it has been closed ...a few youtubers are not very happy with him

[@leeallen1407]

@@RichieReportsUK And it's his fault it has been closed.....confrontation with the motorists shouting at them to go faster and trying to take over

[@davidgiles6356]

Jon thanks for your excellent and informative video to put the record clear. GLAD IT'S CLOSED

[@LeeSmith-cf1vo]

Never heard of it. However, a couple of years ago I tried to drive in flood conditions. I set off from my end of my road which was bone dry. By the time I'd gone 500m to the other end of the road I was in some deepish water. Unable to go back I continued on where the water continued to get deeper and the current stronger. At this point I think the water level was above the door sill and I was actually quite worried about dying. Fortunately I managed to find some higher ground where I decided to pause for a few mins to let the engine not conk out. Then, faced with little alternatives, I retraced my path, including going the wrong way down my own one-way street. There were other roads but I figured if the car made it one way it could probably make it the other and that wasn't guaranteed for any other route. So yeah, lesson learned. Never again. Citroën c4, non cactus. Brave car did well.

[@mariemccann5895]

If you drove 500 miles then you were probably in the North Atlantic, depending upon which direction you were heading. You are lucky to be alive.

[@spokest]

@@mariemccann5895 yet he clearly says he drove 500 metres, using the correct abbreviation

[@mariemccann5895]

@@spokest You're sharp officer. Are you Welsh?

[@spokest]

@@mariemccann5895 no. I just paid attention at school 🤷

[@danielmarshall4587]

Couple of years ago I too found myself driving along flooded roads, praise be the water was "only" to the bottom edge of the wheels and not up to the sills, but I was SHITTING IT. Expecting any minute the lerch of engine death.

[@PatGilliland]

"Karen Wagon" nearly peed myself laughing.

[@tasty_fish]

Love your videos, brilliant commentary mate. Clearly talented.

[@AlbertDongler]

Excellent presentation! Thanks for putting this together :-)

[@CycolacFan]

Interesting to hear the history, which I don’t think any other YT channel has ever bothered with. The quality of your videos is getting better and better. Isn’t it nice to see that if enough people screw something up it can effect change.

[@whyyoulidl]

+1 👍🏿

[@TheJohnboyhunter]

I encountered a ford in the North Pennines back in October. I took one look and decided it wasn't a good idea because the water was both deep and fast. Within half an hour or so, two fire engines came blasting past me, and later in the evening, I read in the news that someone's car had been washed away that afternoon, at that very same ford.

[@stewartthompson9457]

Great commentary, love watching your videos

[@mczrx]

Brilliant Video - Informative and Funny - keep them coming!!

[@GazMoby]

Yes John. Estate or proper 4x4 💪 None of these two wheel drive Chelsea tractors.

[@williamstrachan]

I ended up going through one time (well, twice, out-and-return), but it was in August and the water was ~220mm. Even then it was fairly busy on the footbridge. Biggest fear was, honestly, someone coming the other way being a "hero" - both from a "head on" perspective and a "big wave" one. People just got stupid. I think it may have originally gained its fearsome appetite for cars by being the default route that Google Maps offers from the A1 to the nearby Center Parcs - nothing like holidaymakers far from home being afraid of getting lost (or of reversing, if they have a caravan they tow once a year) for making iffy decisions because "we're nearly there".

[@SonsOfLorgar]

And they don't have the sense to unhook the caravan, turn the car around, turn the caravsn around by hand and hook it up again instead of risking everything on a ford crossing... That said, in some regions, Google maps is blunt and buggy as if it was written by a bunch of lemurs in a room of computers...

[@OldLordSpeedy]

I wish you, your camera friend and family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Take care and thanks for the wonderful videos! True content are rare on KZbin.

[@marksmith1944]

At the very start of your videos you always say “ how the devil are you”, just so you know I’m okay and I hope you’re okay too. Merry Christmas 🎅🏻🎄Jon & Happy New Year 2023. Awesome coverage on this Rufford Mill Ford story. Looking forward to more footage in 2023 bye for now mate. 👍🌟🍺🍺

[@dirtydishes2148]

I enjoyed watching the Rufford Ford videos on Tom's channel. It was a shame that off-road vehicle drivers began to take it to extreme speeds and reckless driving. I believe watching them led the algorithm to recommended me the Secrets of the Motorway videos and all your lovely content.

[@radders261]

I always enjoyed what a fun day out everyone had filming and watching, especially the children.

[@dirtydishes2148]

@@radders261 I loved hearing the crowd reactions when a car would get flooded or make it through.

[@MrTurtlebar]

Being fairly local to the ford it was nice to visit Rufford Abbey and watch people trying to go through the ford. What the videos online didn't tend to show was the large amount of cars that did see sense and turned around, to a chorus of boos from children and adults watching. That happened more than the laughter but when it did happen it was so enjoyable.

[@chir0pter]

Lol sure it was only the "off road vehicle drivers" who were going in full tilt. And even if they did the worst thing that happened was a big splash or a stalled car 😂

[@Maikel710]

im sure it wasnt the off-road driver's fault, i saw a video about a motorcycle driver who speeded so much that he fly over it and nealry lost his leg for that. I think that was to much bad news.

[@dmatveev89]

Great story, thanks for putting this all together

[@howdymartin6258]

Love every one of these videos -- and the humour..... for this one the line "no not that one...." - keep up the good work and Happy New Year

[@TheTonytiger89]

I live two miles from Rufford Ford. It’s closure, and therefore being unable to gawk at people who get stuck has been devastating to my weekends.

[@InfamousCrimeLocations]

Why didn't they just build a bridge for the cars? That would solve all the problems

[@TheTonytiger89]

@@InfamousCrimeLocations I believe it was mostly to it being too expensive relative to the usage of the road, this road just goes directly through the village, and there’s another route which circumvents the villages that adds only about another minute to the journey - so it wasn’t deemed cost effective.

[@finleyrood9933]

As someone from Nottingham I can confirm that Rufford county park is a beautiful place to visit and the cafe in the old mill does great food

[@AutoShenanigans]

It is a nice place, coffee wasn't too bad either.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent video. Funny and informative. Well done.

[@simmer484]

Finally some context to this Ford and some stats. Well done!

[@captainlandslide9874]

“Karen wagons”… 😂🤣😂😆👌👌

[@02shredder]

I worked in Mansfield for 6 months and stayed in Rufford and during heavy rain always had to take the long way around. It is quite clear that most drivers have no idea water destroys engines and do not understand air intake positions on the front of their motor. Wading depth is something that is totally foreign to most drivers and creating a bow wave slowly is beyond them....

[@prancingppony]

2 of my favourite KZbin motoring videos combined and it was awesome!

[@timmata8143]

Great video. I am from Los Angeles CA and love watching cars get stuck with my 3 year old son. We recreate the scene with his hot wheels and small cars. Thanks for background on this.

[@jimcowan6472]

What a great video. Thanks so much for putting this together. Really good 👍 👍

[@bobblebardsley]

On the plus side, you may be one of the last people to have original footage of anyone driving through it. Shenanigans forever! 🥳🥳

[@granddadmark7639]

Love(d) Rufford Ford videos and the lemmings destroying their engines. Nice to know about the back story for the mill. Thanks and looking forward to next years Auto Shenanigans 🚘 😀

[@bagpusscat7839]

Utterly brilliant 👍. Thank you😻

[@bizbizley]

So very funny start to finish. Brilliant 👏👏👏

[@orwellboy1958]

So, that John, Richard Hammond and me, who hate the Nissan Joke (not a misprint). Anyone else want to join this exclusive club?

[@aussiewatchman8112]

Hello, I used to live in Tuxford, not too far away. But since moving to Australia 19 years ago, I've been fascinated with all the videos of Rufford Ford. I've really felt sorry for the drivers even though they have been dickheads by going into it and not going at the same pace as the bow wave which is obviously rule 101 - not that it makes a difference if its too deep anyway. I went up north somewhere with a friend when I was a teenager. I had a 2.0L Diesel Peugeot van (6 weeks old) and I took it upon myself to impress my friend as we spent the next 20 minutes hitting that deep ford as hard and as fast as we could go. I remember saying, "We're all right David, this is a diesel so the electrics being wet will make no difference unlike petrol engines". Lets just say, after a full on hydrolock and waiting a few hours for the RAC, I remember that all engines have an air intake box. An expensive lesson learnt. Thank you kindly for the history lesson on Rufford Mill etc.....Most appreciated.

[@westaussie965]

We did the opposite, moved from Australia to Edwinstowe😂

[@Dillonpickle]

Hello from Brisbane. Loved the Ford vids 😢

[@adamball1740]

It’s been fun lads. Cheers from Canada.

[@yorkiemalone8727]

BRILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIANT mate at last a history of why and when GREAT good effort and thank you

[@darrenmilo9565]

I walk rufford every night with my dog and regularly walk down to the viewing platform after heavy rain. I used to commute through it too and never had an issue with the water height but in cold conditions the water froze coming out making it very spicy.

[@yellowjackboots2624]

"The Saville family...no, not that one" That's a lol 😄

[@gordonm2821]

Yep loved it!

[@Jayneswoolandbuttons]

Amazing - fabulous watching 😍

[@musgawp]

Merry Christmas and thanks for all the brilliant entertainment.

[@benreeder5490]

Almost went through this while towing a caravan when it was about 2f2f as it was the way Sat nav wanted to take us. Just so happened I watch one of the videos a few days before penny dropped and turned around at the golf course turning

[@elliottaylor7818]

Rufford ford has been an attraction for years, I always used to go there to watch the cars- and there was always a crowd watching. But back then the water was nowhere near as high and no one was filming. Its an awful shame it has been ruined by all the fame

[@Maikel710]

i mean that the water is not near that high isnt the fault of fame. XD

[@whosyourmate8292]

Brilliant film, love your delivery 🤣👌

[@christopherhall4024]

The best ford was the one near Wyndley Gate, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield used as part of the RAC/Lombard rally in the late 70's and early 80's. It is still there but no longer accessible to through traffic. It caught out a number of drivers and teams in its day! Keep up the great videos!

[@RichardLordRix]

Haha, the Astra's. First time out, sometime in the early 80s, and they entire factory team retired on day one. Can't remember if it was the first stage, but it was pretty early on. Some very red faces at Vauxhall as a result.

[@JohnJackson-mn4ts]

The Roundabout just outside Ollerton tends to get slow and congested around rush hour. Rufford ford could be used as a short cut to New Ollerton, skipping the roundabout all together. As long as the ford wasn’t flooded and was taken at a steady pace, it could be successfully navigated.

[@7ammit]

I've always wondered..... Thanks for enlightening me.

[@sebrassino]

This is the information we all needed

[@tylerjones3875]

If only there was some structure out there that could allow vehicles to go over water…

[@rover_animates]

This is something I have been seeing a lot of in the Nottingham Post recently, and as someone who doesn't live too far from here, it's good that you've done a video based on sometime a little closer to home. I have been through a nearby ford with my dad before, which was the one on Beanford Lane, located just off the B6386 and A6097 near Oxton, not too far from Rufford Mill.

[@glynscothern4073]

Thats the new meating place as the Farmer will open the Car boot car park.

[@David_Crayford]

Just hazarding a guess... but is it called the River Bean by any chance?

[@rover_animates]

@@David_Crayford According to some research, the ford follows the course of the Dover Beck.

[@glo0115]

They shut the one near East bridgeford a fews years ago too, our sat nav took us through it in a little VW Lupo.......my wife will never follow my advice of "it's not that deep, you'll be fine" again 🤣

[@tobyjackman3212]

This is the best video I've ever seen about anything

[@project182r3]

Fantastic video, I really enjoy your posts dude

[@gregw4303]

Very very good video, funny and brief 👍🏻

[@tinrobot1746]

The problem with Ruffed Mill is that it attracted a bunch of Walts with rubbish 4x4s that looked like they had ram raided the LED lights section of Halfords. These Walts came because a bunch of slack jawed idiots thought it would be good fun to drive through it, normally at high speed. This then attracted fringe You Tubers, some of which you just know have hard drives full of stuff that the police would want to have a chat to them about, having some cheap content to post.

[@Stealth360stealth]

I'm sure anybody who knew their rights would just say no to police checking their footage lol. Photography isn't a crime

[@tinrobot1746]

@@Stealth360stealth Don't think I said it was. It isn't against the law for losers to film idiots. Sadly.

[@jasinere35]

i went through that ford on a hybrid mountain bike & your right about the crowd gatherings i got cheered on by them while i rode through the water also back them the water was pretty shallow as it was middle of summer, its amusing to do as long as you do it slowly cos these days you can get into trouble for splashing any pedestrians

[@MultiMidden]

It's been the case since the 1980s as it can be classed as driving without reasonable consideration for other persons.

[@Stealth360stealth]

@@MultiMidden doesn't it require you to intend to splash people for you to be convicted. Its not just the act of doing it I thought

[@MultiMidden]

@@Stealth360stealth Not a lawyer but if it's very minor and accidental then you're probably fine, if someone gets soaked by accident you'd be looking at a £100 FPN and potentially points. If you do it on purpose it could be something that “amounts to a clear act of incompetence, selfishness, impatience, and aggressiveness” then the fine goes up to £5000.

[@jasinere35]

@@rb5174 sealed unit i had in the bike at the time aswell as the ford literally being really low so my feet never touched the waters surface

[@EmyrDerfel]

@@rb5174 No, given he said "pretty shallow as it was the middle of summer", it was probably low enough to barely wet his feet. Most bottom brackets are around a foot above the floor, and a basic cartridge bearing will shrug off running water, just not having water from a jetwash pummeling its way past the seals.

[@falmouthphotos]

Thanks for the memories and thanks for a well edited video. Do you always talk at twice the speed limit? impressive!

[@nmarks]

Excellent video, thankyou.

[@watchmrcontent]

Great video - most vehicle drivers have no idea where the air intake for their engine is, and too often it's low down, behind the front bumper. I used to use a garage for servicing my company fleet, one week saw a Citroen Berlingo diesel block with a hole in the side of it, because it had been driven through a ford... that water splash thrill can be mighty expensive

[@DrTheRich]

The air inlets for most cars are right under the hood, further back, not behind the front bumper...

[@tonys1636]

The distributor's more of a worry especially with BMC A series transverse engined cars.

[@EmyrDerfel]

@@DrTheRich The intake may be up at the grille, but the air filter may be in a tall casing reaching down to the bottom of the engine.

[@michaeld5888]

@@DrTheRich My car which is a highly efficient 1 litre Skoda has pre-heating by the looks of it pulling it from around the front radiator. VW group cars do seem to fail so this could be why for the sake of efficiency not expecting total submersion. I would never go in to water over sill height unless an emergency and certainly drive slowly. I am sure most manuals tell you that. Also coming out of deep water you should brake check as it is surprising how little braking can be there. You rarely see people doing this at Rufford after immersing the car. The rescues do not cover all the damaged cars I am sure as there is a strip down of an engine on youtube which ran a few weeks OK until the bent con rod finally failed and trashed the engine. The engine valves were also not sealing properly.

[@phatgringo2.0]

I know where my air intake is, it's under my eyeballs.

[@rumo4344]

i'm glad its been stopped, all the vultures with cameras and sad on-lookers will have to find something else to do

[@shaddaboop7998]

I've known about this ford for years but only just realised that I've actually been through it about four times! I was staying with friends in the Center Parcs at Nottingham (...their idea, not mine... though I did end up having a really good time) and the route we took on a daytrip to York went through the ford, January 2020.

[@kevmacca1905]

Really f##king enjoyed this one nice one john

[@senseal5462]

Nice to see an an episode of a place really near me. As a kid i used to love watching the cars make big waves when they drove though it from the observation area near the café. Though its a shame that I'll probably never get to see it again. They will either put speedbumps in or close it for good due to the outragious speeds that people started doing where gona cause a huge crash eventually

[@stuartandrews4344]

Just drop a bailey bridge over ford,problem solved,no damage to the ford

[@PrototypeNo98]

Hopefully a few speedbumps and traffic wardens would calm the area down a bit. I'm suprised they never raised the road and installed a Culvert, but that would ruin all the fun.

[@DrTheRich]

@@stuartandrews4344 why? that's wasted tax money, the drive is just 1 minute extra to the closest bridge

[@plxton]

@@stuartandrews4344 Impact to heritage would likely prevent that from happening

[@senseal5462]

@@PrototypeNo98 speed bumps on either side would be ideal (at least at a point where the water reaches its highest otherwise they would be obscured During a flood)

[@markjlewis]

Great stuff, loved the "Karen Wagon" comment.

[@themidnightbandwidth]

No bullshit, quick talking, compact but plentiful with information. LOVE IT. tire dof people fucking wailing on and on about the same things theyve talked about. TOTALLY SUBSCRIBED.

[@j.b.w.]

I'm glad to finally see a celebrity like John cover the matter.

[@markb159]

Nice to see a video about it and not about some tw*t ploughing through it as fast as possible ...Merry Xmas Auto Shenanigans

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate... I do enjoy the "fail videos" but someone needed to bring some facts into it :D

[@paulspyker3749]

@@AutoShenanigans But some people here disagree with the facts, they're called haters, Darens, Karens or trolls.

[@havelime]

That'll be in part 2.

[@vojtechjanda9684]

I don't know about many fords anywhere near me but there's an infamous underpass in the east of the Czech capital which is built in such a way that any major storm overloads whatever draining solution it has built in and the bottom road floods. The pool is not large, but it's tends to be quite deep, which combined with what this video says about wading depth for the average car leads to many a stuck vehicle. Every. Damn. Time.

[@EmyrDerfel]

There are many roads under railway bridges in London and other large british cities that dip and are prone to flooding, so videoing idiot drivers ruining their vehicles is a common amusement during grim winters.

[@royharkins7066]

Thanks 4 showing

[@shireknight01]

"That guy got lucky" perfect comic timing 🤣🤣🤣

[@drockjr]

It's such a tragic end. Tom Sunderland has a great, unabridged channel for Rufford Ford. The council should have left the Ford open solely to leave people to their own devices. Let's see how rich the local mechanics can truly get and how many people *truly* can hydrolock their engines in the course of a year. The local community could capitalize on this and pay the locals for the inconvenience. Bars, mechanics, local property values, towing, tourism, etc. would all benefit from having it open. RIP. We loved you.

[@TheVicar]

I'm much happier for the people who live next to it They must be so happy now

[@drockjr]

@@TheVicar oh for sure. But can we really place the sanity of the lowly farmers and common folk around the area ahead of the greater population of the youtube viewing audience? I think not! (sarcasm)

[@AdeReeves]

Inevitable this would get closed off at some point ...things that attract a crowd having fun always do

[@LongLiveHelghast]

Tbh I wouldn’t say it’s killing fun, it’s more of a case of twats spoiling it for everyone else. Since the big KZbinrs starting going down there and filming people in BMWs/Mercs/Jags etc flooding their engine, it started to attract complete knobs trying to get themselves in these videos by driving way too fast through the ford. The police eventually went there and tried to calm things down, but there were still a couple of major incidents (a Seat going through way too quickly and a modified Land Rover intimidating a Kia into going through very deep water, where it inevitably broke down) that made the police say enough is enough and blocked the road off.

[@AdeReeves]

@@LongLiveHelghast It did seem to get a little out of control over the past few months ..l kind of stopped watching the videos myself, but that seems the case with any big channels on here now... people i used to follow just seem to be instigators rather and innovators ..

[@morbideddie]

@@LongLiveHelghastagreed. The ford has been a local attraction for years, but since it didn’t have much outside exposure it didn’t attract the idiots. The police were fine with it. Enter KZbin and widespread fame and it was only a matter of time until we started to see it taken too far. This was inevitable, the only question was how long would it take for the police to step in.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

More to do with dickheads in blue Land Rover defenders, red Seat, and a black jeep that came through way way too quick and nearly taking out a couple of cars on the way out

[@billpimblett4043]

Love the presentation style and wit.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot!

[@mmorgz6622]

this was a great summary of the ford... maybe the next channel to pop up will be at one of the other fords. hopefully a deeper, longer one. great entertainment.

[@michaelcrouch5708]

If I had plenty of time on my hands I would be looking for a connection between recently acquired property or land along this road and someone on the county council.

[@AhmedEissaPage]

Thank you very much for this informative video and all videos on your channel. I love them. But I got a question, why the local council didn't plan to build a little bridge over this ford? I can see a small bridge for pedestrians, why not another one for vehicles? Again, Thank you very much.

[@whyyoulidl]

Probably due to the cost. Not even viable should they even introduce a toll...

[@TD5rage]

Brilliant video👍

[@stefanschulthess5397]

I always wondered why there is no bridge. But now I see the context. Thanks.

[@gordonjohnston684]

Open the door before you drive through and drive slowly. That way you can keep an eye on the depth of the water! If it likely to rise above the sill, reverse back!

[@philsharp758]

Great video. The other hazard of driving through a flood is that the waters may have lifted the drain cover. Encounter one of those and you will lose a front axle at the very least.

[@TheCardiganR]

There's not going to be a drain cover in the Ford is there.

[@EmyrDerfel]

@@TheCardiganR No, but he said "through a flood", not "through a ford".

[@TheCardiganR]

@@EmyrDerfel there's not going to be a drain cover near a Ford either, in case a flooded Ford seeps or leeches into the drain. Don't forget, we are talking ford's here, not flooded roads.

[@markosmith8037]

great video - well explained

[@BronzeAgeSwords]

your films are joyful

[@BrowniesTruck]

Just 2 mins down the road from me! So glad you have covered rufford ford, it’s has been a growing menace for months however entertaining it has been! No secret slip roads here!

[@lancethrust9488]

RED BULL HAVE BOUGHT THE SPOT AND GOING TO TURN INTO TO A RED BULL EVENT , WITH DJS , FAIR RIDES , AND HOT DOGG STANDS

[@daveheys2699]

There was a video of that guy who missed the road and started driving down the road so maybe he technically thought there was a secret slip road......

[@DrTheRich]

What's the growing menace? The amount of tourists?

[@BrowniesTruck]

@@DrTheRich the amount of people driving through at speed, some having huge accidents, attracting bigger audiences therefore risking more lives

[@DrTheRich]

@@BrowniesTruck Hmm yeah, understandable... I guess it's kind of when fun things get "discovered" and get more popular than they should be. I tend to not share great undiscovered places I've found on my random travels, because i like them to stay special. I hope when the hype dies down, and they can add some speed bumps (imo a solution that solves most problems here) the ford can be open again.. Also not sure if google maps still routes people through there, maybe getting that changed would help too if possible.