Side Friction - Episode 106 - "It's Gonna be the Greatest..."

November 22nd, 2025

Ryan the Ride Mechanic, Greg and Bob have another incredibly fun filled conversation consisting of various different topics including all the news.... well, ride vehicles, from IAAPA, some announcements, theories, and, well.... isms.

• Wonderland Amusement Park, Amarillo icon since 1951, is officially up for sale
• Mack Rides CEO addresses fatal incident on roller coaster at Universal Epic Universe
• State ride inspectors wrote no reports after Universal roller coaster death, agency indicates
• SeaWorld class action alleges theme park chain uses 'bait-and-switch' tactics
• IAAPA Expo 2025: All the ride vehicles revealed for new theme park attractions
• Dolly Parton offers health update after missing IAAPA induction ceremony
• Zamperla: just being silly
• Intamin X ETF Ride Systems, Multi Dimension Mover
• Nate Bargatze Reviewing Sites for Nateland Amusement Park, Partners With Storyland Studios
• Already ready for summer fun: Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild announce 2026 opening dates
• Iconic waterfront amusement park in Myrtle Beach to open new roller coaster

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 105 - "SBNO"

November 15th, 2025

Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Bob decide that this is an anything goes week as they all vent about dumb chains and closed museums. In an effort to keep some sanity, however, they scoured the web to find some news stories that aren't about parks being closed or falling flags.

• Herschend To Acquire Silverwood
• Cedar Point shares incredible videos of northern lights in Ohio illuminating night sky above park's roller coasters
• Six Flags says closing or selling more parks is 'priority'
  • Six Flags Eyes More 'Underperforming' Parks for Closure as Revenue Falls Short of Expectations
  • Six Flags warns it could close more parks as financial woes mount
• Six Flags facing federal lawsuit as pension fund accuses company of hiding years of neglect
  • Securities Fraud Investigation Into Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN) Announced
• JANA PARTNERS PROVIDES UPDATE ON SIX FLAGS INVESTOR GROUP
• Exclusive: Future of old Six Flags site might resemble National Harbor, Md. leaders say
• Netflix is opening its first amusement park – and it's completely free
• Oasis Amusement Park On Lake Of The Ozarks Will Be Open By Fall 2026, Developer Says
• Last two boater bros busted for trashing historic Playland amusement park in boneheaded stunt
• Russian AI Robot Faceplants
• Pittsburgh-area man recreates Kennywood on Rollercoaster Tycoon video game
• Waldameer's Wacky Shack turns 55

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 104 - "End of America"

November 8th, 2025

Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Bob discuss a lot of dumb news including Bob talking about the last day of Six Flags America.

• Fire-Rescue Superheroes Scale Inova Loudoun Hospital to Deliver Halloween Treats
• Six Flags of America closes in Bowie
  • Superman breaks down at SFA
  • Dumb guy climbs Batwing on the last day of Six Flags America
• YouTube Shoutouts:
  • ROBB ZIPP AT SIX FLAGS AMERICA'S LAST DAY 11-2-2025
  • Savage Mister
  • Drens Adventure
• Couple helps secure rider after seatbelt fails on Worlds of Fun's Mamba roller coaster
  • Worlds of Fun visitors say they had to hold down young girls after alleged seat belt malfunction on roller coaster
• 2 girls fall from Ferris wheel at Louisiana harvest festival: Sheriff
• Intoxicated passenger falls out of amusement ride in Port Hardy
• Cedar Point cased in terrorist attack plot foiled by FBI. What to know
  • Feds: Suspects in Ferndale terror case also cased Cedar Point; one is tied to video game lawsuit
• New Report Shows Just How Bad Things Are for This Florida Theme Park Giant | Disney Dining
• Stupid lawsuit of the week: NJ mother's lawsuit over kid who called her 'Karen' at amusement park dismissed by appeals court

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 103 - "Micro Capacity"

November 1st, 2025

Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Bob explore the world of toy cars and corvids.... and some coaster and park news too.

• Woman sues SeaWorld after duck allegedly flies into her face while riding roller coaster
• Universal 'holding back' on operating Epic Universe at full capacity
• Kentucky Kingdom building new suspension roller coaster
• Roller-coaster track, likely for Mindbender replacement, spotted in Edmonton-area industrial park
• Renegade 'super fan' takes his 30,000th ride on the Valleyfair roller coaster
• Circuit of the Americas to offer amusement at top speed
• Worlds of Fun roller coaster temporarily shut down due to safety violation
• Knoebels bald eagle passes away
• Waldameer winds down after successful summer, announces Paratrooper comeback

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 102 - "Kelce and the Moose"

October 25th, 2025

Greg and Bob take on this week's news without Ryan who's away for the week. Another fun variety of stories and only a small bit about that big chain with a half dozen flags and lots of problems.

• Travis Kelce joins activist investor Jana Partners in push to revive Six Flags
  • Travis Kelce Teases Possible 'Kelce Roller Coaster'
• Low Flying Moose
  • RMC will unveil a new coaster
• RetroEscapes nostalgia theme park planned for Las Vegas
  • RetroEscapes | Las Vegas retro destination | Las Vegas, NV, USA
• Inside Disney Imagineering's Sonic Labs
• Universal Orlando 2026 park-to-park tickets to include Epic Universe
• Lagoon to retire Jet Star 2 roller coaster after 49 years
• Virginia man rides every roller coaster in the US—all 1,069 of them
• Our biggest competition is screens at home, says theme park boss
• Groundbreaking held for Aurora Park at Geauga Lake, site of former SeaWorld Ohio

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 101 - "Small Parks, a Sweatshirt and some Chickens"

October 18th, 2025

Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Bob have an extremely wide variety of smaller stories this week along with some great rabbit trails. This episode is sure to entertain.

• Six Flags Announces Corporate Governance Changes
• Various Six Flags parks now have free haunts
• Barracuda Strike suspended roller coaster opening in 2026
• Universal Kids Resort is coming to Frisco, Texas in 2026
• Closed Universal Studios rollercoaster catches fire in Florida
• Lagoon unveils plans for new Screamin' Swing thrill ride
• Sweatshirt causes ride stoppage at Hersheypark's 'Wild Mouse'
• Mattel Adventure Park may not open in Bonner Springs until 2031
• Westchester police searching for suspects who stole 200 stuffed animals, vandalized Playland Park
• Rollercoaster POV: New ride at COTALAND in Austin
• Wilde Hilde - Schwaben Park
  • Wilde Hilde - Theme Park Music
• Arnolds Park Amusement Park sees record attendance
• A tour of Knoebels Amusement Resort from a dog's POV

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 100 - "Do a Line, Get In Line"

October 11th, 2025

We've reached 100 episodes! Thank you so much to everyone who listens weekly and gives this little hobby of ours purpose. To celebrate this milestone we have brought together both legacy crews to join in on the conversation. In addition to our current crew of Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic we also have Steph joining us who co-founded Side Friction as well as Bob's counterparts from Coaster Talk Podcast, James and Timmy. We hope you enjoy this incredibly fun show. Here's to another hundred!

Note: There are multiple references made to Coaster Talk Podcast episode 200. If you'd like to listen to that you can find it at https://coastertalkpodcast.com/episode-200-a-walk-down-memory-lane

• Universal to reopen Stardust Racers ride 2 weeks after man's death
  • After Stardust Racers roller coaster rider dies, his family speaks out
  • Attorney: Universal Stardust Racers coaster had history of complaints before Zavala died
• Second inversion of the Canobie Corkscrew rebuilt at the National Roller Coaster Museum in Texas
• Disney World, Disneyland Hike Ticket Prices
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets: Opening Summer 2026!
• Canada blocks theme park from sending whales to China
  • Canada's Marineland theme park says it will have to euthanize 30 beluga whales without emergency funding
• 18-year-old charged after climbing Busch Gardens roller coaster
• Maurer Rides installs interactive indoor coaster at new Hi Space theme park in China
  • Maurer to present new Spike Racer innovations at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 99 - "It's Not Fair"

October 4th, 2025

Bob, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Greg close out the last of the double digit episodes with more Six Flags turmoil, fair rides going wrong, and a new place to stay but if that wasn't enough you'll also get to hear Bob's thoughts on Top Thrill 2 and Siren's Curse.

• Deutsche Bank Issues Grim Warning for AI Industry
• Microsoft launches 'vibe working' in Excel and Word
• Kings Dominion - Show Me the Weather
  • Ashland, VA Weather Sept 27
• Land & Buildings Issues Letter
• Spooktacular – Watch the trailer for the documentary about America's first horror theme park
• Carnival ride malfunctions during school 'Family Fun Day' event in Pico-Union area
• Accidente de juego mecánico en la Feria de San Miguel Arcángel y la Alfarería en Guanajuato deja cinco heridos
  • Video of accident
• Dutch Wonderland Inn

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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