To provide a comprehensive ignition system of simple design capable of starting an engine at a low speed and not requiring an expensive microprocessor circuit.

A capacitor discharge type ignition (CDI) system is equipped with a trigger circuit to generate a trigger signal in synchronism with operation of the engine for discharging an ignition capacitor. The system includes a timing circuit which is connected to the trigger circuit to control the timing of the trigger signal and furnished with a timing coil to generate a timing signal in synchronism with operation of the engine. Further the timing circuit is furnished with a primary electrode connected to the trigger circuit and a control electrode coupled to the timing coil to short the trigger circuit as a function of engine speed. The CDI system is capable of advancing engine timing to enable low-speed startup. The timing circuit is adaptable to provide skip spark speed-governing, timing retard speed-governing, and anti-reverse rotation of the engine.