[norman falkiner]

Ralph Sarich's original orbital engine if I recall never worked but in trying to make it work they developed fuel injection systems for two strokes. Some of which are used today by large manufacturers of outboards,and motor bikes. I have driven a couple of cars with the two stroke motor(in line not orbital) and they were fantastic. One was a six cylinder in a 3 series BMW and you could take it down to 800 revs in third gear and it would pull away very strongly, and being two stroke and firing each stroke it was like a tiny twelve cylinder. The emissions were ahead of the toughest world standards, and as it consumed oil, the oil was only topped up and never changed. The reason Ford walked away at the 11th hour was never disclosed but rumours included the worry that they may produce another Edsal or a Wankel like problem, tooling up for a two stroke car engine was expensive and Joe public would take some convincing to change. A real pity it did not make it big time. I might add Sarich cashed out of the company close to the top and is now one of Australia's richest from property investment. Regards