Side Friction - Episode 141 - "Yeti, Set, Go!"

August 22nd, 2026

Bob, Greg, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Steph have tons of news to address in a way that probably only the 4 of them can. There's a lot going on this week so it's a longer show but it's entertaining the whole way through.

• NEW RIDE: Vala's Pony Express!
• Universal Studios to dampen 'disturbing' coaster screams with sound barriers
• Disney parks and cruises saw their best growth in two years despite a travel slowdown
• Expedition Everest Yeti Getting Fixed After Nearly 20 Years, Disney Confirms
• Disney World Reveals Villains Land, Maleficent Roller Coaster & Magic Mirror Dark Ride
• Monsters, Inc. Coaster Details, Will NOT Open With Land in Disney World
• Beloved 67-Year-Old Roller Coaster Takes Its Final Ride Before Closing Forever
• Switchback will live on
• Lost Island Theme Park Announces Forbidden Lair, First Ever RMC Family Shuttle Coaster
• Dolly Parton provides health update after skipping Dollywood ride opening
• On National Coaster Day, Hersheypark announces upcoming upgrade
• Miner's Mountain Express
  • Miner's Mountain Express POV!
• Austin's COTALand revs ahead with amusement park opening date revealed
• Donation agreement frees up money for Bay Beach Amusement Park fixes
• Six Flags Guest Miraculously Catches Shoe Hurtling Toward His Face on 70 MPH Roller Coaster in Viral Video

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 140 - "Tilt-ulator"

August 15th, 2026

Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic discuss the out of nowhere news and then move on to the smaller stories in a shorter but entertaining episode.

• Groundbreaking Six Flags coaster closed after incident with rider
• Kennywood closing Thunderbolt coasterdown for renovation
• Kennywood's Jack Rabbit receives Centennial Coaster designation from American Coaster Enthusiasts
• Knott's Berry Farm closes loophole on unlimited dining pass
• Cedar Point's Corkscrew to receive special honor
• Public memorial service planned for longtime amusement park owner
• OT: Facebook is paying controversial creators to produce rage-bait content
• Dolly Parton will not attend opening event for new Dollywood ride
• Oaks Park Launches $40 Million, 20-Year Modernization Plan
• OLD: Ride Manufacturer RMC Merging With Larson International
• Tilt-A-Whirl! The Minnesota invention and State Fair staple turns 100
• As attendance falls, United Parks places a bigger bet on Howl-O-Scream

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 139 - "You owe me a buck..."

August 8th, 2026

Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic discuss Bob's car drama and his trip and then get into the latest news.

• BAKUNAWA POV & Off-Ride - World's Tallest & Fastest Spinning Launch Coaster!
• Six Flags Great America announces Camp Timber Trail with Sky Hawk roller coaster
• Knott's reopens MonteZOOMa coaster after 4-year closure
• Busch Gardens keeps expanding its original mythology with Return to Corkscrew Hill
• Family-Owned Amusement Park Officially Closes Its Doors After Announcing 'Difficult Decision' to Shut Down After 36 Years
• Kumba, R.I.P.
• Amarillo Fire Dept. releases additional details on Wonderland incident
  • Scary incident details revealed after Texas roller coaster's 'wheel set failed,' appeared to derail with 18 'stranded' riders
• 'It sounds like bloody murder': Neighbors complain of screams from new Universal Studios coaster
• Power outage at Six Flags Magic Mountain delayed opening, park officials say
• All Disneyland restrooms closed as Anaheim hit with water pressure crisis

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 138 - "Billy Bob's Fat Ones"

July 25th, 2026

Bob, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Steph go way off the rails like they were Big Dipper at Blackpool. Buckle up for a very funny and entertaining show.

• Billy Bob's Wonderland
• Shut-down order lifted for Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds
• Big Dipper - Pleasure Beach Resort (Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom)
  • Big Dipper Derail
  • Big Dipper Damage
• 2 arrested at Cedar Point for refusing to exit the Sky Ride when asked
• Universal reports 'softened' attendance at Orlando theme parks
• Video appears to show temporary wall falling on visitors at Universal Orlando
• See how Pixar, Marvel worlds and more come to life at Disney parks
• Coastersaurus Roars Back: Florida's Only Fully Wooden Coaster to Reopen Next Month at LEGOLAND Florida
• Iron Gwazi Money Back Scam
• 11Foot8
• Jack O' Lantern Spectacular to be moved to Kentucky Kingdom

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 137 - "Asphalt Revenge"

July 18th, 2026

This week we mourn the loss of Dick Knoebel who passed away at the age of 87. He was an industry later that has shaped the industry that will be felt generations from now. Our thoughts and our hearts are with the Knoebels family during this time. More information can be found directly from the park or at the Amusement Today article.

Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic then kick off a show that retains the typical upbeat format and news that our listeners have come to enjoy.

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay retiring Kumba roller coaster after 33 years
• Fury 325 at Carowinds shuts down after discovery of foundation issues
• Frank Hurricane / Thoosie Mob / Tee Shot / The Pop Cult
• California Theme Park Nears Reopening of 48-Year-Old Roller Coaster
• 1886 to 2026: Lagoon Amusement Park reaches 140th anniversary
• Universal Studios neighbors complain about noise from new Fast and Furious ride
• Universal Orlando sets closing date for Fast & Furious Supercharged
• Hocking Hills to open mountain coaster
• Wildfire smoke from Canada blankets Northeast Ohio: Cedar Point to close at 7 p.m. Thursday

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 136 - "Orange is the New Brown"

July 11th, 2026

Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have a wide range of smaller stories that spark a lot of speculation and even some confusion.

• Pls don't hate us… --Fun Spot
• Look out Mammoth … New roller coaster rolls into C.J. Barrymore's
• LITD - C.J. Barrymore's "What's Ahead"
• 4 Six Flags Visitors Hospitalized After Being Struck by Falling Tree During 'Severe' Storm amid Fourth of July Celebrations
• World's Tallest, Fastest and Longest Giga Dive Coaster Officially Opens at Six Flags
• Meet the man who kept Kennywood rolling for nearly 50 years
• Kennywood asking guests to add more time for travel amid Parkway East closure
• Universal: New pass for 2 theme parks good through mid-December
• Virginia's first alpine coaster Mountain Mayhem opens at Massanutten Resort
• After 52 years, Inland Empire amusement park Fiesta Village is closing
• Woman sues Knoebels after breaking leg while exiting Ferris wheel
• Georgia Aquarium to receive two beluga whales from closed Canadian theme park
• New Study Reveals the Most Affordable Theme Park to Visit in the U.S. — and It's Not in Florida or California
• Disgusting video shows children riding boats in 'sewage brown' water at popular Maryland theme park

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 135 - "Copy, Paste, Ride"

July 4th, 2026

Bob, Greg, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic talk about the latest industry news, tracking executives between park chains, Roller Coaster Tycoon, and whatever else happens to pop up.

• Holiday World unveils plans for 22 million USD water coaster
• Comcast announces NBCUniversal spinoff; what it means for Universal theme parks
• Six Flags site redevelopment will be guided by entertainment, housing and innovation
• Maryland is facing its first summer without Six Flags America. Here's where families are heading
• Six Flags Over Georgia closes new roller coaster for the season
• Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) Appoints Mark Pauls as COO Effective July 2026
• Kings Island's next big roller coaster may be hiding in Atlanta
• Six Flags Sets New Opening Date for Its Record-Breaking Dive Coaster After Unexpected Delay
• Project Purple Topped Off
• Joris en de Draak Titan Track cracks
• Ride the Wildcat at America's oldest continuously operating amusement park
• Neural Render Proxies for Interactive and Differentiable Lighting
• Marineland belugas one step closer to getting new homes
• Marineland Reportedly Sending Deer & Elk to Slaughter
• Disney World Guest's Phone Charger Catches Fire in Line for 'It's a Small World' Ride, Prompting Brief Closure

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 134 - "Gargantuan Vertical Waterfall"

June 27th, 2026

Bob, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Steph talk about some disappointing news, weird news, and then a few bits of good news with a whole lot of extra conversation in between in another entertaining episode.

• Realistic Mario - Oren Brimer as Luigi
• Disney details plans to make dark ride vehicles disappear
• Fun Spot to close Atlanta location in August
  • Fun Spot Atlanta family, thank you for the memories…
• Universal Kids Resort promised family thrills, but delivered a $550M concrete carnival
• Six Flags Postpones Record-Breaking Dive Roller Coaster 4 Days Before Grand Opening
• Is Six Flags' new coaster Phantom Spire? What the park is and isn't saying
• Teen climbs out of Disneyland attraction mid-ride, taken to hospital
• Man banned from Kennywood after trespassing in restricted area, officials say
• Nashville Shores waterpark sold to out-of-state company for more than $12 million
• Cedar Point confirms metal piece fell from roller coaster after guest claims she was 'almost' hit
  • https://www.facebook.com/jaymarisant/videos/1059603686586649/
• Fan favorite Whizzer roller coaster reopens at Six Flags Great America
• Knott's Berry Farm tests Montezooma launch coaster at full speed
• Zachs get half-price admission at Michigan's Adventure Friday
• BBQ Train

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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