"Other Services" from GCI and CCI

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I've noticed that on both CCI's and GCI's website, that both companies offer many other services apart from coaster design. I was wondering if anyone knew what percentage of their business comes from re-tracking/profiling, etc., and if anyone knew of any of the specific projects either company was involved in.

What made me think about this was the fact that GCI isn't a prolific company, but has managed to stay afloat. Is the "other services" business enough to merely get them by between installations, or is the bulk of their business actually "behind the scenes (re-tracking, modifications)?"

Considering how much re-tracking/re-profiling actually happens with wooden coasters, I imagine there's quite a bit more business there than we (GP and enthusiasts) know about. Apparently, SFoG put a considerable amount of money and effort into the GASM last winter...and it shows, as it is a GREAT ride once again!!! Also, I hope GCI's Millenium Flyers catch on so they get more business building trains (as opposed to those nasty G-trains)...
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

gatorwoodie said:
Also, I hope GCI's Millenium Flyers catch on so they get more business building trains (as opposed to those nasty G-trains)...

I personally wouldn't call G-trains "nasty", but I definitely would love to see more Millennium Flyers in the world. Those are some of the most beautiful AND comfortable trains I've ever encountered. (Although I personally would like to see stiffer bars that stay put a bit better)

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--Greg
"Beat the rush, sign up for your post-Mean Streak MRI now..."
My page My other page And my coaster page

Well, GCI over 50 coasters that they have re-tracked and re-worked. I could care less about CCI, seeing as they aren't that good anyway.

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Bomb Squad Technician

If you see me running, try and keep up!

Will you please stop bashing CCI? They obviously are doing something right seeing as they get at least twice the business that GCI gets.

Don't like it, don't ride it.

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G.Bush:We will find those who did it, smoke them out of their holes, get them running, and bring them to justice.
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

I belive CCI retracked big dipper last year at SFWOA. I remember seeing a massive pile of old lumber from Big dipper by the wave pool.

I believe GCI only builds one coaster a year not because it's a smaller company but because they'd rather put their effort into a single coaster. Both Mike Boodley and Clair Haines can oversee the construction and make sure the job gets done to their high standards.
I'm not positive on this but heard Six Flags went to GCI a year or so ago asking for 4 or 5 coasters in one season. GCI turned them down being afraid they'd sacrifice their quality.
I should stop by GCI headquarters one of these days. t's only about 15 miles from my house. Maybe slide a few of my coaster designs under the door.
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*** This post was edited by coasterpunk on 11/2/2001. ***

I think we should start keeping track to how many threads have Coaster131 bashing CCI. I'm finding it quite hilarious.

Cmiesen, just wait till he rides Ghostrider, Shivering Timbers, Raven, Legend, or a host of others. It looks like he has just ridden Villain and Great White (nothing to be ashamed of), but those two are some of my least fav CCIs. (I love Villain to death, but it doesn't quite make it against some of their masterpieces.)

As for GCI....I have had the priviliage of riding all of them, plus almost of all of the CCIs that Mike Boodley worked on. They are amazing, and I hope there are many more to come!

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- Peabody

I thought even Villain was great...good air, nice speed in the turns. Sure, it wasn't as good to me as Ghostrider, Raven, or Legend, but was a little better than Cheetah, IMO. And I haven't even gotten to Silverwood, Big Chief's, IB, The Boss, BoulderDash, ST, etc. ...YET! The only even slightly poor CCI I've ridden was TS...Lola and Stella, slowly screeching around a rusty track (probably NOT the way CCI intended for it to be treated...) Oh, and Greg, I really shouldn't have called G-trains nasty, I'll revise and call them "comparatively nasty"...LOL!
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Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Hey, so far, I have 2 messages bashing CCI.
CCI SUX!
Now, we're up to 3.
Lord, how I LOVE GCI and don't care for CCI. Wooden coasters are meant to have WOODEN structures. Steel coasters are meant to have steel structures. Sorry, CCI...re-think everything you're doing.
Oh yeah, and thank you. It's nice to be known for something, lol.
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Bomb Squad Technician
If you see me running, try and keep up!

*** This post was edited by Coaster131 on 11/2/2001. ***

Coaster131 said:
"Wooden coasters are meant to have WOODEN structures. Steel coasters are meant to have steel structures.

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I thinks that has to do more with matainance rather than the coaster company. Steel structured woodies have been around alot longer than CCI. Part of the C.I. Cyclone is steel, Great Escape Comet is all steel structure. Then theirs the steel coasters with wood structure too.

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Hello, My name is Dan and I'm a coasterholic.

coasterpunk said:

I should stop by GCI headquarters one of these days. t's only about 15 miles from my house. Maybe slide a few of my coaster designs under the door.
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*** This post was edited by coasterpunk on 11/2/2001. ***

heh heh, I used to live a few minutes south of Santa Cruz, right by La Selva Beach. I had no idea that the Morgan company at the edge of town made rollercoasters!(well, just the trains when I lived there) If only they had some kind of picture on their building!

-djansi

Coasterpunk....The Comet was built by CCI. HA HA!
Wasn't the C.I. Cyclone refurbished by CCI, too? The C.I. Cyclone hasn't always been steel structured. It did have an all wooden structure for quite some time. It wasn't until the late 1990's that it was torn down and re-built.
CCI IS HORRIBLE!!!! Wow....up to 4.
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Bomb Squad Technician
If you see me running, try and keep up!
*** This post was edited by Coaster131 on 11/3/2001. ***

The C I Cyclone has ALWAYS been a steel structured, wooden track coaster. Look up the pictures in Great American Scream Machine by Robert Cartmel.

The CI Cyclone has always been steel sturctured and CCI has had NOTHING to do about it. Herb Schmeck, not CCI is responsible for the Comet, and when it was moved to the Great Escape in 1993, not only did CCI have nothing to do with it, but it was also the original steel from 1947 (and before since that steel came from the Crystal Beach Cyclone) that moved there. In addition, all of Harry Traver's Cyclone coasters had steel structures. Steel structures have been around on wooden coasters a lot longer than CCI.
Of course, I look at Coaster131's reason for not liking CCI (steel structures) and I realize that you probably have this opinion because you want to be different. Steel structures make no noticable difference in the ride. While I do need to respect your opinion, you should realize that so many people have the opinion that CCI's are awesome that it has pretty much become a fact among coaster lovers. I see that the only two CCI's you've ridden are the Villain and Great White...Get yourself on the Timbers, Legend, Raven, and even Cornball Express (with that NASTY steel structure) and we'll see if that changes your tune. I'm pretty sure it will.
Oh and by the way, notice that only 10 of CCI's 34 coasters have steel structures.
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"It looks like they just decided to hang up wheat all over the park" - my friend Steve, describing the FearFest decorating at Kings Island.

Other than proper design and initial construction quality, maintenance is THE key factor in keeping wooden roller coasters - or any amusement ride - operating properly.
Amusement ride maintenance takes many forms including daily, weekly and yearly checks. The yearly checks are very extensive, and for large rides, the maintenance demands can often exceed a park's capacity to perform the work using their own crew.
That's where "Other Services" come to play. The services can be as limited as a routine tightening of every nut on a wood coaster's structure (which should happen at least yearly on EVERY wood coaster in the world) or as extensive as completely dismantling large portions of the ride, removing foundations from the ground then reconstructing the attraction using modified designs that take advantage of advances in technology or design methods.
The former is a task that larger parks often undertake themselves, but that smaller parks sometimes contract out to an experienced crew. The latter almost always requires extensive knowledge of design and construction techniques, and that's when GCII is called upon (for example, the reconstruction of the Magic Springs Arkansas Twister last year).
Hopefully, the need to completely rebuild rides (due to unacceptable roughness or dynamic forces) will not be the modus operandi of wooden coasters in years to come. It is my sincere belief that parks will ultimately embrace the idea of a properly executed ride from day one. A properly designed wooden coaster shouldn't require a complete rebuild after twenty, ten, or in some cases two years of operation. A properly designed wooden coaster will always require attention, but should not be a drain on a park's maintenance budget.

CCI did a bit of retracking on Big Dipper, Wolf Bobs, and their own Villain last offseason at SFWoA.

They worked on RWB?
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G.Bush:We will find those who did it, smoke them out of their holes, get them running, and bring them to justice.
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

Could you at least think of the reasons CCI makes steel structures in the first place? They are cheaper for parks that can't afford all that wooden lattice-work but still want an amazing wooden coaster with excellent elements. Or...for places like Jazzland and Indiana Beach where the coasters HAVE to have steel structures---or no structure at all. They build them for a purpose, not just to piss you off.
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The one who drops the Spirit Stick goes to HADES!
Check out the new http://indianabeach.8k.com/
*** This post was edited by Glitch01 on 11/4/2001. ***