Your Favorite Builder Of Woodens

[theRock-steel]

We haven't really asked this outright so here goes. Who would you say makes or made the best woodens ?
I know that many of the companies aren't around anymore or don't still make coasters, but you can name anyone. I like Great Coasters International and Dinn Corporation.

[jolash]

I was going to start off a topic extremely similar. Let me name off some of the top manufacturers for everyone.

Great Coasters International
Custom Coasters International (defunct)
Dinn Corp. (defunct)
S&S Power
Vekoma
Stand Co.
Intamin AG
Gravity Group
Philadelphia Tobaggon Company (defunct)

Please let me know if I forgot any.

I have to go with Gravity Group. It's without a doubt that their designs are incredible and their first three coasters are just a glimpse of what's yet to come.

[ArrowOwnzU]

Summers and Dinn. They win at woodies.

[theRock-steel]

Individual people seemed to have designed some (T. M. Harton, John A. Miller, Andy Vettel, etc.). They and the park seemed to have built them. That's why I didn't make a list. That was a good idea though.
:rolleyes:

[Matt]

Gravity Group!

Then either Intamin or GCI... its really close for me.

[Michael]

Gravity group takes the cake for me :cool:

[rcwhiz]

You forgot Roller Coaster Corporation of America.

But my favorite is Gravity Group and GCI.

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

Track Work: Great Coaster International
Layout Design Firm: Gravity Group
Individual Designer: Larry Bill
Best Trains: GCI's Millennium Flyers (maybe one day we'll see clamshells on them? :))
Overall Success: Custom Coasters International
Most would've liked to ride: Any Traver coaster

[rollercoasterfreek]

I have only been on two wooden rides in my life so if you count what I like by experience it would be Great Coasters International since they make Roar. Based on knowing what companies make what, I like Vekoma.

[thatdancingbear]

Roller Coaster: Psyclone
Builder: Dinn Corporation
Designer: Curtis D. Summers

That would have to be it then. :p

[Top Thrill Dolphin]

That's a tough one. They all have really good rides (and some not so good ones).

Dinn, CCI, Gravity Group, and S&S have used the same engineers. The main guy at GCI (don't remember his name right now) used to work for CCI.

[sfgam2006]

I have only been on seven woodies and my favorite is American Eagle at Six Flags Great America so I would have to go with them. They have nice big coasters, with nice big hills similar to their mega coasters with airtime hills some nice twists and turns thrown into their and speed.

I still haven't been on a GCI coaster which will hopefully change sometime soon.

- Zach

[The Storm Runner]

From my personal experiences (and the fact I've never ridden a GG), I'll have to go with GCI. Wildcat, Lightning Racer, they're smooth, fast, have some airtime here and there (Wildcat has constant airtime though :D). They are really twisty and so undulating and graceful.

Also, the only CCI I've ridden is Sky Princess (Kingdom Coaster?) at Dutch Wonderland, lol. From what I remember from seven years ago, it had some air...I think. :)

Additionally, some of the best woodies I've ridden were made by the parks themselves - Kennywood (Racer, Thunderbolt, Jack Rabbit :D) and Knoebel's (Twister :D).

[Dan]

GCI, but I agree with Nick. Thunderbolt, being my favorite woodie, didn't really sprout from any major wooden coaster manufacturer. Also, as soon as I get on a GG, I have a feeling that it will replace my top wooden company.

[theRock-steel]

I have never heard of Roller Coaster Corporation of America.
What did they make ? Vekoma made something out of wood ? What ?

[apsterling]

Both Dinn and Summers. Predator @ Darien Lake is one of my favorite woodies. :)

[Top Thrill Dolphin]

I have never heard of Roller Coaster Corporation of America.
What did they make ? Vekoma made something out of wood ? What ?

RCCA made Son of Beast. Vekoma did Weerwolf and Robin Hood over in Europe.

[JD71]

Lets see what I've got.

CCI:
GhostRider -KBF; My fav woodie out there thanks to Solace 07

GCI:
Roar -SFA; It was ok, some rough spots, but it’s an enjoyable ride overall.

IADI:
Colossus -SFMM; To be honest, its nowhere near my fav coaster. Its a little rough in many spots and the pacing isnt the best, plus SFMM only races it one month a year. I love it for its nostalgic value, and I'll gladly ride it, but its not a top coaster..

John Pierce:
Rattler -SFFT; Its a big, rough ride. Has its painful rib crushing moments and the helix is unnecessary..

Dinn and Summers:
Psyclone -SFMM; At first I freaking hated this ride because it was beyond rough. Then one day I rode it on a near empty train with Billy and got 2 unbelievably great rides on it, I soon fell in love with it. It sucked to see it go..
Wild One -SFA; Great ride, just awesome.

King's Entertainment Company:
Grizzly -KD; A rough secluded ride, I didn't enjoy it...

Kings Island Construction, Maintenance & Engineering:
Grizzly -CGA; Fun ride, not much to it though.

International Coasters, Inc:
Hurler -KD; I loved it. If I hadn't gone to Solace and experienced No Lights No Trims on GR then Hurler would be my number 1.

Prior and Church:
Giant Dipper -Belmont; Ok ride, its nostalgic, but there's not much too it.
Giant Dipper -SCBB; Great wood. Ejector air, good pacing, definitely kicks Belmont's a$$. :p

PTC:
Rebel Yell -KD; They at least try to race it, fun ride.
Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster -KD; Rough, small, kiddie wood. No thanks...



So my favourites: Dinn & Summers, ICI, and CCI.

[theRock-steel]

RCCA made Son of Beast.

Oh, does that even count ? (Just kidding - Son of Beast has not been that well received.) :(

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

Wow, so many people listed Dinn. What's the mystical Dinn I need to ride to make me a believer too?

[thatdancingbear]

^Psyclone :p

[Matt]

Wow, so many people listed Dinn. What's the mystical Dinn I need to ride to make me a believer too?

when you find that out ryan, let me know too.

[Jake]

^^^, ^ Agreed. I believe the only Dinns' I've rode are Psyclone and Mean Streak. Both of which were terrible rides.

[Tom]

Saying Mean Streak is a "terrible ride" is a bit of an overstatement. I enjoyed it, and its really not as bad as everyone claims it to be, and I rode it in both the front and back row. Psyclone did bruise my ribs 2 separate times though. I have not been on enough wooden coasters to judge this fairly, but my two favorite wooden coasters are GhostRider, CCI, and American Eagle(SFGAm), which is Intamin. Hopefully this will change over summer.

[ArrowOwnzU]

Wow, so many people listed Dinn. What's the mystical Dinn I need to ride to make me a believer too?

I was just joking when I said it. I don't know about everyone else though.

[Jake]

Saying Mean Streak is a "terrible ride" is a bit of an overstatement.

I disagree. It was rough, the pacing was non-existent, and there were constantly bugs in my mouth throughout the entire ride. Quite simply, it was one of the worst coasters I have ever been on.

[Sam]

Roller Coaster: Psyclone Oh god...:p


My favorite of the ones I have ridden would have to be CCI. Ghostrider is freaking amazing!

GCII comes in a close second. Roar at SFDK is amazing and the trains are really comfortable for a woodie.

Another good one is Hensel Phelps Construction Co. The builders of Twister 2 at Elitch Gardens.

As for the others, my woodie count is fairly low and I have not ridden any built by GG, Intamin, or any of the other major companies. :(

[coasterkid92]

I have only been on seven woodies and my favorite is American Eagle at Six Flags Great America so I would have to go with them. They have nice big coasters, with nice big hills similar to their mega coasters with airtime hills some nice twists and turns thrown into their and speed.

I still haven't been on a GCI coaster which will hopefully change sometime soon.

- Zach

Intamin designed it.

[Jeff]

Custom Coasters Int, Inc.

...no doubt about it. ;)

[Comet]

Hmm, I guess Intamin...maybe GCI.
GCI is more creative in their designs for sure, but Intamin's Plug'n'Plays are out of any other wooden coasters league.

So yeah, Intamin for me.

[GhostRider_Rules]

CCI all the way! GhostRider!
Although Prior and Church were pretty good too...