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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Side Friction - Episode 98 - "Not the Fountain!"

September 27th, 2025

Greg is back with Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic to talk about a whole new assortment of things and this week it's back to being mostly about coasters with the normal amount of rabbit trails. The news starts off grim but gets more positive as the show goes on.

• Universal Orlando Resort president says Stardust Racers ride was functioning properly
  • State inspectors align with Universal's findings that roller coaster was working right when man died
  • Woman sues Universal Orlando over injuries from same roller coaster in which man died after ride
• Glenwood Caven's Statement on the Jury Verdict
• Kennywood confirms employee killed after being hit by vehicle in Near Park
• Universal Orlando News: Lost Continent Demolition Permits and Footers for Rockit Replacement
• TORMENTA RAMPING RUN - Six Flags Over Texas Giga Dive Coaster
  • New Six Flags Over Texas rollercoaster will be tallest, fastest, longest and first-ever giga dive
• Report: Austin theme park won't be arriving as soon as planned
• California theme park adds first new thrill ride in 20 years
• Dollywood owners closing Gwinnett County amusement park after 20 years

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 97 - "The Ride is Out There"

September 20th, 2025

Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have Airtime Myke on the show this week to talk about... well.... A LOT. This is the longest episode to date but genuinely probably one of the most interesting. As for rabbit trails, well, that's basically the whole last hour but the whole show is lots of fun.

• Siren's Curse 2025 Uptime Stats
• Cause of death revealed for Universal Epic Universe guest found unresponsive after ride
  • 'Help! Help!' Cause of death revealed for guest who rode Stardust Racers at Epic Universe
• What does the future of Cedar Point look like following merger with Six Flags?
  • Six Flags Reports Strong Attendance Growth and Season Pass Unit Sales Through Labor Day Weekend
  • Six Flags' Financial Woes: Debt, Closures, and Uncertainty
• Six Flags Over Texas closes popular boat ride 'The Conquistador'
• Worlds of Fun evacuated first night of Halloween Haunt for unsubstantiated gunshots
• Partnership Mansion - Wikiwand
• NightFlight Expedition
  • Intamin Flume Ride - 2025 New Elements Animations
  • Mission Bermudes On-Ride POV - A Fun Futuroscope Adventure!

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 96 - "Bluer"

September 13th, 2025

Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic are joined by CoasterBro (aka Caleb) of Coaster Cuzzies this week while Greg spends time with his family.

• The 2025 Golden Ticket Awards honor 27 winners, presented live from Carowinds
• Judge sides with resident in Conneaut Lake Park dispute
• Fate of Columbia County man's backyard roller coaster uncertain after losing appeal
• LA buys Griffith Park Carousel
• Nine Inch Nails To Soundtrack Disney Roller Coaster
• Maurer to present new Spike Racer innovations at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025
• Nate Bargatze Is Hoping to Build 'Nateland' Theme Parks
• Riders evacuated from Hersheypark rollercoaster
• Peanuts license at Six Flags parks extended through 2030
• Silver Dollar City, O'Reilly Auto Parts partner for theme park transit department
• Six Flags America's Boo Fest
• Batwing closed permanently
• Oaks Park is auctioning off its original roller coaster tub
  • Zoom Coaster - Oaks Amusement Park (Portland, Oregon, United States)

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com