An engine is configured such that, during the starting of the engine, when it is being detected that throttle opening has been set at a starting position, if it is detected that the engine speed has exceeded a predetermined speed slightly lower than a speed when a centrifugal clutch becomes an engaged state, a control unit retards the ignition timing from a general angle to a first angle BTDC, and then advances the ignition timing to a second angle at predetermined intervals, and holds the ignition timing at the second angle for a predetermined time period, thereby preventing the engine from stopping due to fouling on the spark plug while suppressing the engine speed at the speed when the centrifugal clutch becomes the engaged state, or less.