Polaris Sunday – this silver missile doesn't quite make its target

Polaris, any visitor to this site will know, is the name of a leading American UTV manufacturer and principal sponsor of the 4WD Park at Woodhill Forest, near Auckland. It's also a name for the North Star in the night sky and a submarine based nuclear missile from the Cold War. Its nautical, missile-like and 4WD park connections come together in this sequence of photographs, taken on Sunday.

2008 Ford Ranger XLT tries the Polaris missile approach through a waterhole – full blast and damn the torpedoes. Great rooster tails, though.

All of a sudden, the trajectory falters; the guidance system has failed to detect an unfortunate lack of clearance
below the waterline.

A black plume of exhaust smoke confirms the terminal loss of forward motion. Well, any motion.

Not to worry. Out of the window and onto the roof to grab a shackle from the tray while  a winch in unwound.

"What's takin' ya so long, mate?"

A quick flick back in through the window and she's all good.

The usual crowd gathers to analyse possible problems, offer advice and generally watch the engine's resuscitation.