What is a TAG system?

I have had many messages and comments from people asking what a TAG system is and whether is it worth getting...

There are three types of starting systems that are common in karts:

Pull-Start Engine

• Pull start have many advantages; for example, starting them after a long break is very easy as it does not rely on a battery and most usually starts first time!
• However the main disadvantage is one that can cause many problems out on the race circuit; for example, if a kart (cadets typically have a pull-start engine) had an accident and span of the circuit, typically the engine would cut out for safety reasons. The driver cannot restart the engine themselves because they are not allowed to leave the kart, they then have to wait for a marshall to assist them, this takes time and can cause them to lose positions in the race.

Push-Start Engine

• Push-Starts have one main advantage; the fact that they start moving which enables them to gain speed very quickly!
• However I think that the disadvantages of a push-start engine seriously outways the advantages; for example, it is very common for the kart engine to not start on the grid which results in the driver losing many places in the race. Another disadvantage is if a kart had an accident and span of the circuit, typically the engine would cut out for safety reasons. The driver cannot restart the engine themselves because they are not allowed to leave the kart, they then have to wait for a marshall to assist them, this takes time and can cause them to lose positions in the race. Furthermore, I have witnessed drivers pushing their kart with their team mechanic onto the track to start the engine, attempting to jump into the kart and falling to the ground injured, and the kart behind running them over as they are travelling at such fast speeds.

TAG engine system

• A TAG engine system has many advantages; it does not require any assistance to start which makes the whole karting operation a lot easier. If a kart had an accident and span of the circuit, typically the engine would cut out for safety reasons. Using a TAG system the driver can restart the engine themselves by simply pressing the start system. 
• However the one disadvantage of a TAG start system is the fact that after not using the kart for a while, it can take a while to restart it again, but once it starts; it will work perfectly!

Personally, I think that the best system is the TAG system! The Tyro kart that I have started to drive uses a TAG system with two buttons, a starting throttle and a full engine cut out.