Best GCI Woody

[The Yeti]

I've only ridden both Gwazi's and Ozark Wildcat. Overall I thought Gwazi was a hell of a lot more exciting, and the roughness really didn't bother me that much, but the ride could use new trains (and I haven't ridden since '08). I think I liked the Tiger side more back in the day even though they're almost the same, but the last 3 times I've been to BGT they've only been running Lion.

 

I will have to agree with the poster above me though that when I ride Prowler this summer my number one GCI woodie will change.

[KevinM]

Evel Knievel?

[B-RadG]

I've ridden both Gwazis, both Lightning Racers, Roar East, and Wildcat. Wildcat is best by far.

[Josh Linn]

Out of Lightning Racer and Wildcat, I prefer Lightning Racer. The Millennium Flyers helped Wildcat, but it's still not the most pleasant experience. Lightning Racer still runs like it did in 2000.

[CreditCrazy]

Out of the California GCIs, definitely Terminator! Such a great ride that I loved when I first rode it, and continues to move up on my list. I really like Roar, too. If it had the tunnels/theming Terminator has, and was newer, I think it could beat Terminator. It definitely has the length to be a perfect GCI; one thing Terminator lacks.

[Electerik]

Eh, they're all pretty much the same.

 

Okay, okay--the ones with Millennium Flyer trains are distinguishable from the ones with PTCs.

 

/CCI equaled ice cream, GCI equals soft serve.

[coastercrutchfield]

Either Terminator or Evel K.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Evel Knievel beats out Prowler by a whisker and Thunderhead by a lightning bolt.

[Cavs Fan]

I like Terminator and Lightning Racers a lot.

[ryerson]

I would vote Prowler. I've ridden, EK, Roar (East), Wildcat and Lightning Racer (both sides) as well.

[coasterbear30]

I have only ridden Thunderhead and Roar west and Thunderhead is definitely the better of the two. I get to ride KY Rumbler next month so I will see how it compares. I love GCI's and Thunderhead and Roar are my top 2 woodies.

[Capitalize]

I said one of the Lightning Racers. I've only been on Wildcat, LR, Roar (SFA), and Gwazi, though.

[RomanHORSEman]

I have ridden Wildcat, Lightning Racer, Thunderhead, and Roar. I haven't ridden the latter two since 2000 (but I'm riding them in two days ) and I choose thunderhead but I remember in 2000 that I GREATLY enjoyed Lightning Racer it was a beast.

[Trumple]

Thunderhead and Troy. They're pretty similar, but the first drop of Troy is slightly higher and more intense.

[Canobie Coaster]

I've only been on three GCIs (both Lightning Racers and Wildcat) and of the three Hershey's Wildcat was far and away the best. Now I haven't ridden it since it got equipped with Millennium Flyer trains, but I thought that this was the wildest wooden coaster I had ever experienced when it had PTCs. It was just very fast from beginning to end and stuffed with delicious ejector air and laterals. While I still like the Phoenix more, Wildcat is my 2nd favorite wooden coaster.

[angryemobeaver]

As of now I've only been on

 

Evel Knievel

Prowler

Thunderhead

1 side of Gwazi

 

They rank in that order from best to least meaning my favorite is Evel Knievel.

[Speeddeamon128]

I've ridden both Roars, both sides of Lightning Racers, both sides of Gwazi, Wildcat, & Thunderhead. Lightning Racers red got my vote. If Terminator was on here that would've gotten my vote since it is my favorite GCI but this poll is 4 years old so I went with one of the Lightning Racers

[cal1br3tto]

1. Evel Knievel

2. Prowler

3. Renegade

4. Roar

5. Terminator

[BaMiTsPaT]

I gotta say I love Lightning Racer so much! It is just downright fun especially with the fantastic racing element and crossovers near the end!

[cal1br3tto]

1. American Thunder

2. Prowler

3. Renegade

4. Lightning Racer

5. Roar

6. Wildcat

7. Apocalypse

 

American Thunder is the only GCI I've ridden that delivered serious airtime. Prowler had the most intensity and a disorienting layout, plus some good airtime. Renegade also provided some fun air. The Lightning Racers would be mediocre alone, but the suspenseful and well-executed racing aspect is uniquely exhilarating. Roar had decent air, but has gotten rough. Wildcat has NO airtime, but the speed makes it somewhat fun. I need to try Apoco again; in 2010, I found it too short and lacking in airtime, but it was speedy, which I appreciate more than I did then.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Missouri has the awesome GCI market cornered. American Thunder and Prowler are my favorites of the ones I've ridden (Roar West and Renegade are the only ones I haven't). Thunderhead and Lightning Racer are both excellent, and then the next tier down for me would be Kentucky Rumbler and Apocalypse. Wildcat and Roar aren't very good. Gwazi........is Gwazi.

[rcdude]

I've only been on four, and I would rank them as follows.

 

1. Apocalypse the Ride

2. Thunderhead

3. American Thunder

4. Roar (SFDK)

 

As for reasons why, Apocalypse just feels the most out of control to me. It doesn't seem to ever lose speed, and it is a great blend of out-and-back and twister. It is a shorter ride, but it is long enough and does have a couple bits of airtime. Thunderhead would be my favorite, but it is just a bit too rough. After this, there is a little bit of a gap before American Thunder, which I still found a really good ride. However, it also felt short and I'm not really a fan of tiny airtime hills on a twister. Finally, Roar, while being a lengthier GCI, had not aged well and is quite rough, as well as not being as interesting as the other designs.

[alpengeist04]

My current order would be as follows:

 

1. Thunderhead

2. Renegade

3. Lightning Racer-(Thunder)

4. Lightning Racer-(Lightning)

5. Kentucky Rumbler

6. Wildcat

7. Roar (East)

8. Roar (West)

9. Gwazi (Lion)

10.Gwazi (Tiger)

[Jerrykoala2112]

All the GCI's I've ridden in the order that I like the most

 

1. Kentucky Rumbler

2. Evel Knievel

3. Lightning Racers - Thunder

4. Lightning Racers - Lightning

5. Renegade

6. Prowler

7. Wildcat

8. Gwazi Lion

9. Gwazi Tiger

 

I actually really liked everything in my top 4! Everything below that either didn't deliver a fun ride, or was too rough for me to enjoy. Or maybe they were a mix of both (Gwazi!)

[ANJLOVER14]

I haven't been on many, but of the ones I have ridden, my list is:

 

Apocalypse

Lightning Racers

Roar (West)

Wildcat

 

However, I would rank Lightning Racer FAR above Roar and Wildcat in my top coasters.