Yes, you read that headline right.

A few weeks ago, I was introduced to Joe Harmon, a grad student in the Industrial Design program at North Carolina State University. Joe has wanted to be a car designer since the age of 5, so when it came time to build his grad project, he wanted to build a car so memorable that it would be truly unforgettable. Of course, every other ID student who wants a design gig with a major car manufacturer has the same desire, so Joe needed something to really set himself apart, something so unbelievable that if he could make it happen, no one would forget about it.

Well, by George, I think he's found it. Joe and his crew (with the assistance of Delta/Porter-Cable and some other sponsors) have embarked on the quest to build a 600-HP super car made from wood. When I first heard about the project, I figured they were talking about a steel chassis, drive train and mechanicals with a wooden skin. Come to find out, a considerable amount of the super-structure, including the wheels and leaf springs for the car, are being manufactured from wood.

I was fortunate enough to have a Q&A with Joe about his project, the inspiration behind it and some of the difficulties encountered in making a car from wood in Splinter - The Wooden Supercar. This was a fascinating foray into some of the unexpected ways wood can be used, sometimes even to a level beyond imagination.

Image courtesy of Joe Harmon Design, www.joeharmondesign.com