Coasterkid20 Posted April 21, 2005 Share Posted April 21, 2005 I for some reason have a fascination with the Vekoma Woodies: Thundercoaster, Loup-Garou and Robin Hood. Who has been on them and are they any good? I'm most curious about Thundercoaster because there is basically a non existing buzz about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted April 21, 2005 Share Posted April 21, 2005 I really liked Loup Garou and Robin Hood when we rode them in 2002. They both seemed to "shuffle" around the turns, but overall were fairly smooth, fast, and had decent airtime! Yes, Vekoma rides that I can say I actually liked!!! :shock: It will be interesting to see how they run this year, though. As for Thunder Coaster, be patient for just a few more weeks and we'll have pictures and video of it! --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Posted April 21, 2005 Share Posted April 21, 2005 So they're good? Maybe the shake factor from being a woodie and the shake factor from being a Vekoma cancel each other out and make for a good ride...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted April 21, 2005 Share Posted April 21, 2005 I was also pleasantly surprised by the Vekoma woodies! They were really great rides, comfy trains, great airtime! They did do this interesting 'leap the dips' shuffle in the turns though! Elissa "hoping they've stood the test of time!" Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 The two that I rode (Robin Hoood and Loup Garou) were pleasantly surprising. Who knew that a bad steel coaster maker could make a good wood coaster. Works both ways though, as B&M makes good steel yet bad wood (trains). And then there is Intamin, good at all they do (except for Flashback). Its a shame more Vekoma wood weren't made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Well, we do know that Steel Coaster Manufacturer train on woodie = disaster. 2 of the worst coaster I have ever rode. Son of Beast Psyclone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maliboomer Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I never knew those men at Vekoma made woodies! I mean, think about how rough the ones that are, like, steel, who would want to ride a vekoma woodie! Anyways, I bet the Vekoma woodies are really short and probably last only like 40 seconds! I couldn't resist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coasterkid20 Posted April 22, 2005 Author Share Posted April 22, 2005 As for Thunder Coaster, be patient for just a few more weeks and we'll have pictures and video of it! --Robb I am happy to hear that, I remember watching a video on Travel Channel called something like Europe Coaster Kings or something like that and Thundercoaster was one of them, and it looked like a unique and fun ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I for some reason have a fascination with the Vekoma Woodies: Thundercoaster, Loup-Garou and Robin Hood. Who has been on them and are they any good? I'm most curious about Thundercoaster because there is basically a non existing buzz about it. It has been a while since I have been on Robin Hood. I have been on Loup-Garou (weerwolf) when it just opened (rollercoasterfriends visit) and liked it. Was a good coaster with some great airtime on it.... But (yes there is a but)... I was there last year and was very suprised how rough it is compared to when it opened... Still good though, and not as bad as their steel coasters... but rough.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking86 Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Ive ridden Thundercoaster 15 times. It is still a good ride, but it was much better when it opened. It felt really slow towards the end lst year. But its still a wild, brutal ride that throws you around alot. I dont mind woodies that really tries to show you whos the boss, but in my opinion Thundercoaster is a bit too rough to truly enjoy. Its a shame it doesnt have the same restraints as the other Vekoma woodies. The seats are comfortable, but the steel lapbar isnt. Btw, as far as I know Vekoma did very little on Thundercoaster. The trains and probably some of the technical stuff like brakes and such are from Vekoma, but the ride was designed by Robert Casey/Allot and Lomax. The coaster itself was built by a company that travels around the world and builds wooden coaster. The last coaster they built before Thundercoaster was SoB. Edit: Heres a pic of the restraints on Thundercoaster Yngve "Thundercoaster hurts my knees" Oestbye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movieguy Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Well, I always liked my woodies a bit rough. That's why I've always defended Mean Streak from it's detractors, many of whom I feel have been spoiled over the years by CCI woodies (Though I've never been on one, so I don't know what those feel like.) The Vekoma woodies sound nice, maybe they should build more of them to build up their reputation some more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roeterich Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I already rode Loup Garou and Robin Hood. I found both were very smooth for a Vekoma and both were good rides. I visited SFB only once so I didn't had the chance to ride it very often but in my opinion it was better than Robin Hood. Robin Hood can be a very good coaster, if you ride it in the evening when it had rain the whole day. On the Vekoma woodies I especially like the restraints. There are very comfortable, it feels like you sit down in a couch. There are definitely my favorite restraints, what mean that I like them more than the ones on the Intamin Hypers I've been on(Goliath, EGF). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemesis-storm Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I've also just rode Loup Garou & Robin Hood. Out of the two, I personally think Loup Garou is far better. It has a great first drop & some good airtime ... Robin Hood is O.K - mega slow lift hill - has an interesting layout to it. A word on the trains - I think there better than Gerstlauer trains, but there not great ... Has anyone else been on Robin Hood & had the Donut shaped lap bar slam down onto you legs when going down the first drop? Paul "PTC trains are the best trains for woodies" Chapman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathmole Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 Loup Garou is an excellent coaster - smooth, nice airtime, comfy trains and a decent layout - from what the general view is about Vekoma - you certainly would'nt think they had built it - top notch rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingScooter Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 i'm surprised Angry Gumball isn't all over this thread like blood on the headrest of a Vekoma Looping coaster. couldn't resist... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mind Eraser Posted April 22, 2005 Share Posted April 22, 2005 I rode Loop Garou first. I thought it was phenomenal. Awesome trains, smooth, air, everything. Sorta reminded me of a better Dania Hurricane. Rode Robin Hood shortly after and I was really disappointed. I don't recall it running worse, but the layout was just not as impressive at Loop Garou. Still, Robin Hood is loads better than a ton of other woodies. -kip- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMorgan Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 rode robin hood last year and thought it was great. i loved the trains, too. they're more like "real" wooden coaster trains, (ptc/iad), than those wierd hybrid trains on intamin woodies like colossus at heide park. morgan "spontaneously starts planning another trip to holland" obrien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosferatu Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Rode Thundercoaster in it's opening season and it was one of, it not the best coaster experience I've ever had. The air-time at the second drop was AMAZING. I usually don't get scared at coasters, but the second drop in the back seat was so incredibly scary. Far bether than Balder IMO. Rode it again two year's later, and it had gotten slow, roughh and they had added seat-belts. Still a fun ride, but nothing compared to its first season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Mean Steak is PALE in comparison to ANY CCI Ive been on. Mean Streak is just plain rough, not in a fun way. Its not fast, not really any air or laterals. Each year I give it a shot, but Im always left wondering why I spent the time. Blue Streak is WAY better. CCI's are smooth, but have alot of laterals and air, so they still feel "rough" but not "beat you bloody" rough. Shoot, Shivering Timbers ending helix had some nasty shimmys in it, but only 2 that I remember and the force of the helix was already pretty intense, but it was all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movieguy Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Again, I don't know why people think Mean Streak is so unbearably rough. I've been on raging Wolf Bobs, and to me that was a hell of a lot rougher than Mean Streak ever was. I don't know though, like I said, I haven't been on very many woodies, so I may just not know what I'm missing out on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemesis-storm Posted April 23, 2005 Share Posted April 23, 2005 Mean Steak is PALE in comparison to ANY CCI Ive been on. Mean Streak is just plain rough, not in a fun way. Its not fast, not really any air or laterals. Each year I give it a shot, but Im always left wondering why I spent the time. Blue Streak is WAY better. CCI's are smooth, but have alot of laterals and air, so they still feel "rough" but not "beat you bloody" rough. Shoot, Shivering Timbers ending helix had some nasty shimmys in it, but only 2 that I remember and the force of the helix was already pretty intense, but it was all good. Sorry but why are we mentioning Mean Streak & CCI woodies on a topic about Vekoma Woodies I'd rather go on a poor Vekoma woodie than Mean Streak any day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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