Side Friction - Episode 93 - "Unhitched”

August 23rd, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic (as well as the entire community) can't get away from Six Flags so join them for another dive into the mess that circles the chain.  Even if Six Flags isn't your thing this episodes doesn't forget about you.

• Dragon wagon loses part on the track  
• Kings Island Teaser 
• Six Flags to Cut 2026 Capital Spending on New Rides in the US at Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Other Parks Amid Attendance Decline 
• Big changes coming this year to Cedar Point's Halloweekends: What to know before you go 
• Six Flags is under investigation for fraud as it tries to reel in more visitors
  • Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Lawsuit 
• Iconic roller coaster opens for the first time this season
• Lagoon's legacy: 3 generations of family business
• Lagoon’s 2026 Attraction?
• Kennywood hosting two 21-plus nights 
• British man rides 55 different roller coasters in one week 
• Bubba from 100.7 Star breaks record on Kennywood's Steel Curtain roller coaster 

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Side Friction - Episode 92 - "Closed for Litigation”

August 16th, 2025

Yes, more Six Flags talk from Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic but entertaining and a shorter duration this week. If you are tired of Six Flags, don't worry, plenty of other stuff besides Six Flags gets addressed as well.

• Carowinds Guests Blindsided as Entire Park Suddenly Closes—Here’s What We Know
  • JOANN Fabrics, Party City, Toys R Us, Red Lobster — private equity drove all of them to the ground 
  • Did sirens curse Cedar Point? Power Tower breaks, roller coasters shut down, evacuated
• After Cedar Point coaster breakdowns, Ohio legislator pushes for change. See the proposal 
• Final days of beloved TX amusement park brings a 'roller coaster of emotions’
• The Construction of Six Flags Great Adventure's New Roller Coaster Is Interesting
• Thirteen children hurt in pleasure park ride accident and police issue update
  • Wacky worm gets hooked Coney Beach Pleasure Park in Porthcawl 
• Tropical Americas News Update: Construction, Permits, and Rumors for Animal Kingdom
• Shaquille O’Neal roller coaster overlay coming to Hersheypark
• Lagoon test roller coaster collides with HVAC technician allegedly causing ‘permanent disfigurement,’ park denies claims
• Rip Ride Rockit rollercoaster will permanently close next week - WFTV 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 91 - "Six Flags Fatigue”

August 9th, 2025

A few little things happened at Six Flags this week so Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic dive in with just a small helping of the complete wasteland that the chain has seemingly become almost overnight. If you stick through all the bad news (presented in a hopefully entertaining way) you'll get to hear all about Greg's trip to Japan.

• Six Flags Mexico Unveils Speedway Stunt Coaster for 2026 - Coaster101
• Six Flags out Six Flagged themselves
  • Six Flags calls off Fright Fest during Bowie park’s final season
  • No Christmas spirit: Six Flags Over Georgia cancels Holiday in the Park
  • Six Flags Great Adventure cancels Holiday in the Park and delays Kingda Ka coaster replacement
  • Six Flags CEO Richard Zimmerman stepping down
  • Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Reports 2025 Second Quarter Results
  • Shareholders Elect Four Independent Directors to the Six Flags Board
• Police release review after child drowns at Hersheypark 
• '360 Degree' amusement park ride breaks in half in Saudi Arabia
• Universal Orlando and WWE team up for Halloween Horror Nights Haunt based on the Wyatt Sicks
• Lake Compounce set to retire Holiday Lights event after 2025 season
• Herschend sells three parks to bowling alley company following Palace acquisition
• ええじゃないかってどんなアトラクション? 
• Bye-bye Snoopy? 

Side Friction - Episode 90 - "Six Flags 2: The Search for More Money”

July 26th, 2025

Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic take control of the show since Greg decided coasters in Japan were more important (ok, we would too).  Various news stories get discussed with a couple bombshells, especially one you wouldn't expect Bob to say.

• Roller Coaster Glitches For Fourth Time in Just Weeks
• Six Flags America up for sale in August
• Too expensive to ride: Readers say Kings Island is no longer for the middle class 
• Kings Dominion announces unprecedented benefit with 2026 Season Pass 
• Possible measles exposure reported at Albuquerque amusement park
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach Express Derails 
• Get Ready To Catch 'Em All At PokéPark Kanto, Opening Soon At Japan's Yomiuriland
• I Transported Kingda Ka. Here’s Everything You Need to Know 
• B&M’s are like babies: they always have a rattle! 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 89 - "Where Are We?”

July 19th, 2025

Join Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic as they visit the news and somehow end up wandering through the woods.  If you are a fan of episodes that feature rabbit trails you'll love this stream of consciousness.

• Kennywood inspects Steel Curtain after guest hit by flying foam pad 
• Maurer Rides brings world-first interactive indoor roller coaster to HI SPACE 
• FULL TOUR of the National Roller Coaster Museum! 
• ZDT's Amusement Park Closes August 17th
• LMPD says 2 reports of shootings at Expo Center were false
• Blast off! Legoland Florida announces details for new indoor roller coaster
• ParkFans reports upcharges coming for Six Flag's Haunt
• Major changes coming to Cedar Point causeway
• Ride Roller Coasters At Home With A Seated Motion Simulator & Haptics
  • Play Disney Coaster (DOS Game)  
• Fire Runner Debuts 7/18/2025 
• West Virginia’s First Mountain Coaster Now Open in Mercer County 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 88 - "Blades of Fury”

July 12th, 2025

Join Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic as they talk about a collection of news stories that happened over the last couple of weeks. 

• Wind turbine blade gets stuck between 2 Pennsylvania homes 
• Canada's Wonderland set to debut AlpenFury this weekend
• Siren’s Curse, new ride at Cedar Point, gets stuck again
• Top Thrill 2 Average Downtime  
• Grizzly Escape 
• Kingda Ka train put to rest in Schrödinger's warehouse
• Rocky Mountain Construction Powered “Coaster”
• Popular Dollywood roller coaster Blazing Fury rides again on 4th of July: See what's new 
• Panel: Standard Amusements can't terminate contract with Westchester County to manage Playland Amusement Park
  • Jenkins Calls Playland Ruling 'Significant Victory For The People Of Westchester'
• An iconic theme park chain announced another closure 
• Legacy of Schwarzkopf release status 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 87 - "I Know What You Did”

July 5th, 2025

Join Greg, Bob, Ryan the Ride Mechanic and Pam in a backwards episode where the news is merely an intro to stories from park visits and events that we all had experienced in our time off last week.

• Guest struck by cellphone on Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge roller coaster
• Six Flags New England’s “Quantum Accelerator” debut pushed to 2026 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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. 

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Web: https://sidefriction.com