As Harry David Plant walks to his Birel 100cc Go Kart, he is unrecognisable from the animated and amiable 7-year-old boy from just minutes earlier.

Now Harry is all business, he seems composed, focused and completely in the zone. He puts on his balaclava helmet and adjusts his gloves with the same ease of regularity that his peers probably have when turning on their PCs.

The likes of which, Harry has little to no interest, ?I don?t play computer games or car racing games. They?ve got nothing to teach me.?

Harry laps the other racers ? grown men in faster karts than his own ? easily, zipping and weaving around them at a frighteningly-fast pace. A fear though, that his English-born father, David Plant does not feel. This is because first and foremost he used to be a racer himself, when he moved to Australia at 21.

?We had a farm there and were always messing about modifying cars and racing about. I got into racing V8 Supercars and different souped-up Chevy cars. I entered a few races in Brisbane Gold Coast and things, but it?s his time now.?

Harry is well-known at the Phuket GoKart track, the father-and-son team have their own garage onsite and he looks at home as he zips to the garage and back to the track to get his gloves and other accessories. Why shouldn?t he? It was at that track when he first experienced racing, apart from in the tales of his father?s.

?We used to ride a two-seater, but papa?s legs got stuck one day,? Harry said. So Harry and his little legs branched out on their own. He started with a 50 cc, but quickly progressed to what he now drives: a 100 cc Birel.

The other reason that Harry?s father is confident with his boy racing around the track at speeds of up to 110 kmh, is that, he is actually pretty-darn good, despite only starting to race a year ago. This he puts down to practice, and a natural ability to drive.

The father and son visit the Phuket Go- Kart Speedway a few times a week and each time do 100-120 laps. A routine that was quickly established before becoming a cathartic necessity on Friday nights.

?When I come out of school, I?m steaming up, so I need to do some {laps},? said Harry, with a world-weary smile on his lips.

Harry?s big break came about accidentally, when the pair were at a Bangkok track and racing for fun. The Go Kart Track owners noticed how fast Harry?s track times were and asked him to compete in an upcoming Go Kart tournament in Bangkok.

Their trip to the 3 day event was sponsored by True Sports and Toyota and along with the trophies Harry picked up from competing (4th, 5th, and 5th), he also received a brand new ?Tony Kart?. Neither racing with the bunch of grown men, nor taking part in tournaments phases the pint-sized speedster, ?I never get nervous,? begins Harry, ?I get hyper-excited.?

Although to look at Harry?s cool countenance before a race, it?s difficult to tell. So what?s next for Harry, besides vegetables, girls and maths homework?

David, for one, is sure, ?Unfortunately there are few racing clubs in Phuket. He?s been invited to become a member of the 100cc Yamaha cadet class in Bangkok, but what we are focusing on now is building up his kart to make it quicker.?

Harry grins in agreeance and glances at his Dad before answering my final question of what he wants to be when he grows up:?I want to ride V8?s in Australia.?