Side Friction - Episode 86 - "Dark Money”

June 21st, 2025

Join Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic as they talk about the news with rabbit trails and even a Bob rant on the side.

• Dollywood is quietly building its 'largest new attraction' ever.
• Kennywood's new sister park Dollywood shares vision after acquisition
• Every Time Someone Buys A Ticket To A Universal Theme Park, Steven Spielberg Makes $2.38 (In Perpetuity)
• Orlando's US ThrillRides wins $3.5M lawsuit against major ride manufacturer Intamin
  • Orlando's US ThrillRides sues major ride company Intamin over Dubai project
• Niagara Falls amusement park Marineland begins selling its rides
• Opening of Six Flags New England’s “Quantum Accelerator” coaster delayed
• Survey Reveals More Attraction Concepts – BGWFans
• Cincinnati child goes viral after bringing 'pet' cicada on Kings Island Ride
• Futuroscope announces details on semi-dark ride Mission Bermudes – DRdb
  • Mission Bermudes (YouTube)
  • MACK Rides presents: The Rocking Boat

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 85 - "Lice, Lice Baby"

June 14th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic are even more all over the place than last week but lots of interesting stuff gets talked about and, as always, a fun episode.

• Spaceballs 2: The Announcement
• Angry Voicemail We Got From an Alamo Drafthouse Customer
• Canada's Wonderland shares first ride-through video of AlpenFury coaster
• Top Thrill 2 closes for 'mechanical reasons.' When will Cedar Point roller coaster reopen?
  • Current Cedar Point Ride Mechanic, AMA [other]
• Kennywood's Steel Curtain stalls, stranding riders on hill
• Kings Island visitors joined by thousands of cicadas
• Shipment to Kentucky Kingdom from Vekoma
  • TEMU Tracking Tool (TEMU1776400)
• Introducing Coaster in a Box!
  • Coaster In A Box — Magictecture
• Future Expansion Plans for Disneyland Resort
• Disney announces new details for 'Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring the Muppets
• Shocked parent discovers how Disney World subtly checks kids for lice: ‘That’s a creative way to disguise it’
• Disney World Announces Closing Dates For Three Iconic Attractions
• Save Leap the Dips petition
• 'The old stuff tells a story:' Amusement Preservation Museum hosts open house
• Former Blue Bayou Water Park will have a new name and new operator
• Lake Winnie continues 100-year celebration with private ceremony on June 17
• Universal Studios reveals ride vehicle for ‘Fast & Furious’ coaster

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 84 - "Knott Gonna Happen”

June 7th, 2025

Join Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic for an episode that is all over the place when it comes to news which starts off with some interesting Six Flags discussion and ends with us reporting the hard hitting news that deeply affects CoasterBro from Coaster Cuzzies

• Siren’s Curse opening at Cedar Point in late June and you could ride it early
  • Ohio’s first tilt coaster gets opening date
• Human windshield: Cedar Point roller coaster slams riders into midges
• Six Flags plans to double attendance at Magic Mountain – Orange County Register
• New England’s first dual-launch straddle coaster to open at Six Flags New England
• Universal Epic Universe Ticket Availability | Thrill Data
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Closing in August
  • Universal's Rip Ride Rockit Secret Song List 2023
• Florida man sues Walt Disney World over "permanent catastrophic injuries" from water park ride
• Iowa amusement park's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
  • How does a rapids ride work?
• Citing Persistent Supply Chain Disruptions in Global Market, Chance Rides Resumes Making Portable Rides After Eight Year Hiatus
• Save Iconic Coney Island!
• Baton Rouge's Dixie Landin' Theme Park closes. It was open for about a week.

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 83 - "Cinnamon Tah-heemie Fries”

May 31st, 2025

Ryan is back! After a few weeks of guests and specials the guys are back to normal (well, normal for them) covering the news and whatever else comes up. Join Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic for a fun filled episode.

• Six Flags to cut 135 jobs at Knott's, Magic Mountain and other California parks
• PortAventura Unveils the First Mixed Reality Roller Coaster Experience
• 'It's back, better than ever': Steel Curtain reopens at Kennywood Park after 13-month closure
• Kennywood now officially acquired by owners of Dollywood
• Graeter’s rolls out new flavor inspired by legendary Kings Island roller coaster
• Cotaland Races into Amusement Park Fun
  • RCDB Cotaland
• National Amusement Park Historical Association Best List
  • RCDB Olympia Looping - Wiener Prater

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 82 - "When It's Ready”

May 24th, 2025

Bob and Greg welcome Rick and Brian Knoebel from Knoebels Amusement Resort on the show this week to talk about what's going on at the park. It's a great time with some great stories and an episode you won't want to miss.

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 81 - "Barnyard Breakout”

May 17th, 2025

This week we have CoasterBro filling in for Ryan joining Bob and Greg in a very farmland centric episode.

• Cedar Point animals escape from petting zoo for 3rd time in 1 year
• Hellcat is getting tamed
• Proof that Top Thrill is Toothless
• Herschend launches $1.1bn loan to fund acquisition of theme parks
• Universal’s Epic Universe will drive more guests to Disney World, says parks boss
• NRCMA: Four historic roller coaster cars saved and preserved
• Six Flags Darien Lake reopens for the season Friday
  • Close Up look at new trains for Mind Eraser
• This beloved southern Indiana amusement park was just featured on Jeopardy!
• Baton Rouge's Blue Bayou Water Park won't open this summer

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 80 - "Bearly There”

May 10th, 2025

Airtime Myke fills in for Ryan and joins Bob and Greg to discuss the news and.... well, of course Bob and Myke throw opinions around all over the place. It's a long one but a ton of fun.

• Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Reports 2025 First Quarter Results
• Millennium Force Valley
• Top Thrill 2 rollback trouble? What happened to the Cedar Point roller coaster opening dayl
• Can you find Bob
• Montezooma’s Revenge reimagining progresses with new track delivery
• Disney announces an Abu Dhabi theme park and resort
• From the rollercoasters community on Reddit: National Roller Coaster Museum
  • is the Roller Coaster Museum a SCAM?
• Kennywood announces reopening date for Steel Curtain
• Woman Rides Rollercoaster Through Smoky Mountains, Then the Bears Appear

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 79 - "Shipping Not Included”

May 3rd, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic might give you some whiplash with this episode but with all there is to talk about this week it's hard not to. The Zimm Reaper strikes again while Zamperla saves history and a certain museum is so poor they can't even ship stuff -- and that's just a few of the things you'll find out about.

• Six Flags Announces Plan to Close Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor After 2025 Season
• Back from the Eej
• Westchester issues emergency order to hire firm to fix Playland rides, expedite opening
• Cedar Point set to reopen May 3 with revamped Top Thrill 2
• Epic Universe Preview Tickets Now Open to Everyone
• Iron Dragon Height Requirement
• Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to get new 'record-breaking' ride as more e attractions planned at Yas Island
• NRCMA wants you to pay for shipping
• World's largest rubber duck returning to western Pennsylvania in June

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com