OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Curios and Stories VICTA-SARICH ENGINE - A Misfire - c1974

Hello ODK History Lovers

Ralph Sarich became a household name in the 1970s when he invented his Orbital Engine, that was
claimed to be 40 per cent lighter, 60per cent smaller and 35 per cent more efficient than standard
car engines. His invention was an orbital engine that used only one triangular shaped piston to
create five combustion chambers as it orbited inside a single cylinder.



Sarich, of Perth, first won fame when he was named Inventor of the Year on ABC TV's popular show
The Inventors in 1972. Extensive media coverage, and investments by the public, State governments
and by the Big Australian, BHP, enabled Sarich to develop the engine further. Few people remember
how serious Victa was in their desire to make the Sarich Orbital Victa's next lawnmower engine.

TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Victa's Involvement

Victa announced in mid-1974 that it would enter an agreement to develop the engine for lawnmower use.
At this time, Victa claimed that it would cost them about 1 million dollars to get the engine to
'a commercial stage'.



In Victa's News Cuttings for 1974, the engine and aims of the endeavour were given more detail.
This article, from the New Zealand version of the company's news, had this to say:-



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - Failure

I don't know whether Ralph Sarich was the John De Lorean of our shores, but the Victa project
was cancelled after two years of work and an un-disclosed amount of money. I am astounded at
Sarich's comments, reported in the article below, that his engines was never 'feasable' for small
lawnmower application, given its power output:-



We probably will never know what induced Victa to invest in the Sarich project.
Perhaps it was about the entrepreneurial spirit of gambling on success. They lost.

I can't help but think, though, that the historical context is helpful here.
What economists call 'supply-side shocks' and we understood as 'The fuel crisis' of
the 1970s, may help explain the mindset of 1970's companies. Sarich's promises enticed
investors. Victa was a prime target because they made 'dirty 2-strokes'. Say no more.

I have read that a spin-off of the orbital engine development was that the fuel-injection and
combustion system developed for it could be applied to conventional two-stroke engines. Some
websites say that this technology is now in use in existing boat engines, motorbikes, lawnmowers,
etc., making them more fuel-efficient and clean. I don't know if that is true.

There sure is a lot of propaganda out there ...

The rest is history.
------------------------------------
JACK.

CURIOS and STORIES



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