Best GCI Woody

[arby]

I have to give my vote to Thunderhead although Lightning Racer is a close second.

[coasterbill]

Right now it's apocalypse, but I'm making my first trip to Dollywood in the next few weeks so that may be changing.

[GwaziBSRider1]

I've always been a fan of Gwazi (hence the username), but I'm a glutton for punishment. Lightning Racer and Kentucky Rumbler would round out the top three. I really enjoy Thunderhead, but it beat me up pretty badly the last time I rode it.

[cal1br3tto]

No new GCI's for me this year, but I tweaked my bottom 5 of shame after re-riding a couple. I noticed the 10 I've ridden are split evenly between very good to excellent (all being top 20 material) and poor to slightly above average.

 

Top 5 in order: American Thunder, Prowler, Thunderhead, Renegade, Lightning Racer

 

Bottom 5 in order: Roar West, Wildcat, Gwazi, Apocalypse, Roar East

 

Of those 5, Roar West is head and shoulders above the other 4, which I rank very closely together. I had what may have been my best ride on Wildcat this year; I finally felt a few hints of airtime, while skipping the characteristic roughness that plagued my rides in 2012. I was pleased that Apocalypse really delivered with the one or two early pops of airtime I had previously remembered, but the rest of the ride was too short and uninteresting to redeem it.

[Hercules]

If you haven't ridden Gold Striker do it now. Like tomorrow. Break into the park, and ride it tomorrow. Just tell the cops I said it was ok.

[larrygator]

If you haven't ridden Gold Striker do it now. Like tomorrow. Break into the park, and ride it tomorrow. Just tell the cops I said it was ok.

 

Jay - If I'm going to break the law I'd rather hijack a plane and ride Wood Coaster at Knight Valley.

[MFJorts]

I voted Thunderhead in the poll, but have since ridden Gold Striker. I think they are very close but Gold Striker gets a slight edge. Apocalypse is a bit behind both of those and Roar West is a distant fourth.

[VF15]

The three GCIs I've ridden are Renegade, Ozark Wildcat, and Gwazi (Lion Side), and my favorite is without a doubt Renegade. It is just a great all around coaster that's intense, out-of-control, and has some good airtime. It has been a while since I rode OW and Gwazi (Lion), but all things considered, Renegade is still my favorite GCI.

 

Based on POVs, I think Gold Striker looks like the best GCI woodie out there. Thunderhead looks great too.

[SFSTLMO]

I think that we should update this poll to show the new GCIs like Prowler, American Thunder, and Gold Striker, among others.

[larrygator]

I think that we should update this poll to show the new GCIs like Prowler, American Thunder, and Gold Striker, among others.

 

Unfortunately, the options in the polls can not be updated.

Ultimately we don't like poll threads on TPR because they tend to became skewed towards rides the most people have ridden even before the poll becomes dated.

[Zwoopaman]

I have ridden Troy at Toverland and Joris en de Draak at the Efteling which are not in the poll.

But out of those 2 I liked Troy better.

[MagnumFreak25]

I've only ridden Wildcat and Lightning racer, so Lightning Racer Green-side is my favorite

[glucky11801]

Out of all the GCI's that I have ridden, Gold Striker is easily my favorite! A distant second would be Prowler.

[Paradox]

I have only ridden Thunderhead and it was so amazing we marathoned it for about half the day.

[CanobieFan]

I've only been on the GCI's at Hershey, and I LOVE Lightning Racer. Although its forceless (alot of GCI's are...), it packs a punch and the dueling aspect is soooooo fun. Plus there's never a wait.

 

Wildcat is amazing. I actually love the roughness and it adds to the fun. Being jerked around adds a thrill that many coasters don't have now a days. I don't feel like I'm riding a coaster from the 90's, I feel like I'm riding a coaster from the 20's that defies the odds when I'm riding Wildcat.

[p-sychiatrist]

I've only been on the GCI's at Hershey, and I LOVE Lightning Racer. Although its forceless (alot of GCI's are...), it packs a punch and the dueling aspect is soooooo fun. Plus there's never a wait.

 

Wildcat is amazing. I actually love the roughness and it adds to the fun. Being jerked around adds a thrill that many coasters don't have now a days. I don't feel like I'm riding a coaster from the 90's, I feel like I'm riding a coaster from the 20's that defies the odds when I'm riding Wildcat.

 

I agree with every word of this post! My favorite is probably the red side of Lightning Racer but Wildcat is a close second! It has the perfect balance of speed and roughness that make it feel old school and thrilling at the same time.

[laqueefa]

Never rode one outside of California... based on that fact, I'll say Gold Striker.

[Superbatboy]

Have only ridden Apocalypse and Roar east, and the former (even in its rough condition) is miles better

[robbalvey]

Woah, I just realized I've been on all of the GCI woodies. What's interesting is that I'm not even sure I have a "favorite" as they all kind of seem like very similar rides to me. I know which one I like the least - Gwazi. And I know the ones that in my mind probably stand out the most if someone says "GCI" to me - Ozark Wildcat, Lightning Racer, White Lightning, Kentucky Rumbler, El Toro.

 

None of them are "bad" rides (maybe aside from Gwazi), but none of them really crack my top 10 either. I've certainly had a great deal of fun riding them, but I'm not sure a GCI woodie has really "blown me away."

[boldikus]

BUMP

 

Still haven't been on all that many, but since I've ridden two in the past few months...

 

1 White Lightning

2 Lightning Racer

3 Invadr

4 Roar East

5 Wildcat

 

Rode Invadr over the weekend, really enjoyed it.

[CoasterAuditor]

I've been on Thunderhead, Lightning Racer, Roar, and Wildcat. I would probably rank them in exactly that order. Hoping to add InvadR sometime this year.

[Dombot]

Gwazi Tiger. You think I'm joking? I LOVED it. Maybe I have a bit of a soft spot for it as it was my first "big" coaster, but whatever. Still miss it.

[gerstlaueringvar]

Python in Bamboo Forest. The return run is comparable to Voyage's return run, but with super comfy train and smooth track.

[A.T.I]

Wicker Man towards the back of the train is sexual.

[DBru]

I feel similar to Robb. Basically every GCI coaster I’ve ridden I would describe as “fine.” Enjoyable, but unmemmorable. Here’s how I’d rank those I’ve ridden:

 

1. American Thunder (Evel Knievel at the time)

*

*

2. Lightning Racer

3. Mystic Timbers

4. Apocolypse

5. Thunderhead

5. Kentucky Rumbler

6. Gwazi

7. White Lightning

*

*

8. Wildcat

 

Adding Troy, Joris en de Draak, and Wodan in May. Actually very optimistic about that last one.