Side Friction - Episode 77 - "Augmented Timbers”

April 19th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic go on a roller coaster of news with happy, sad, and frustrating news all making an appearance. Also plenty of fun stories and thoughts to be heard as well.

• Fyre Festival 2 ‘Does Not Exist’ According To Isla Mujeres Tourism Board, Organizer Still Claims It’s 'Real’ 
• Superman Ride of Steel SFA gets New Trains
• Shivering Timbers Track? 
• Camp Snoopy Bird Watchers Club
• AlpenFury Drone Shots
• Vekoma coming to America
• Grand National Scenic Rollercoaster at risk
• Waldameer's plans include new rides and a new name for an old attraction
• Houston residents want a new theme park, UH poll finds
• Story Land New Hampshire Expands 21+ 'Nostalgia Nights' in 2025 
• GREAT SCOTT! Is This a CLUE About What's Coming to Universal UK 

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 76 - "Sequential Parks”

April 12th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic don't have a lot of news but they talk about what they do have and find plenty of rabbit trails to play around with.

• Movie based on popular global chocolate company to make stop in Pittsburgh
• Epic Universe Annual Pass Preview Tickets for Sale – Apr 17 to May 8
• Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2 gets inspected this week. When will it open? What we know
• Universal theme park for Bedfordshire confirmed by Starmer
  • James Bond and Paddington could star at Universal UK
• Technician says Florida thrill ride operator ignored his safety concerns before teen's fatal fall

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 75 - "Hot Topics”

April 5th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic explore the news and talk about things they've seen and visit a few rabbit trails while they are at it.

• Six Flags Magic Mountain permanently closes Superman coaster
• Welcoming Pantherian to the Jungle (It won't open with the park)
• Zambezi Zinger Roller Roaster
• What's new at Cedar Point? Roller coasters, waterslides and more. S…
  • Millie: faster lift
  • Cedar Point hypes return of Top Thrill 2 roller coaster in new video: 'Get ready to go' 
• Huge fire breaks out at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
  • 'High Anxiety' waterslide goes up in flames at Mountain Creek Water Park in Vernon, New Jersey 
  • 12 hurt after a fire breaks out at a water park under construction in Sweden’s second-largest city 
• World Server Throwing Championship
• Change My Mind
• Disney World excluded from Top 5 of the US’s most beloved theme parks

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 74 - "Bobterra”

March 22nd, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic enter what seems to be a twilight zone situation with Bob oddly finding rainbows and butterflies where no one thought he ever would.  This episode is packed with the news of the week but mostly a lot of random rabbit trails that the show loves to embrace.

• Action News' Alyana Gomez rides 'The Flash' roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure
• Check out what fresh food Six Flags Great Adventure is serving up this summer
• DollyWood PROJECT 2026 MEDIA DAY TEASER + CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS UPDATE
• Legoland dropping $90 million on Disney/Universal Studios-style indoor coasters
• Disney World to update Buzz Lightyear ride with new tech and handheld blasters
• Wolf's Revenge progress 
• Farm keeps 'Enchanted Forest' memory alive for 70th anniversary
• Pa. Court Voids Theme Park's 'Click-Through' Contract - Law360 
  • Judge's Opinion
• Epic Universe: Express Pass, VIP Tours now on sale
• Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience pricing, reservations for Epic Universe

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

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 73 - "Bobterra”

March 22nd, 2025

Greg and Bob are joined by Ryan the Ride Mechanic to talk about a few minor stories.  Oh, who are we kidding.... Herschend, Six Flags, Epic Universe, Bob riding Rapterra..... There's just a lot going on here making this one of the longer episodes we've had in a while but you should find nearly all of it enjoyable.

• Herschend to Acquire Palace Entertainment
• Rapterra - Official POV 
• It’s not looking good - Ryan the Ride Mechanic 
• Boulder Dash gets more Titan Track
• Six Flags increasing height requirements 
• Africa Section Getting Upgrades for 2025 Season
• Universal starts selling single day Epic tickets
• Universal Releases STUNNING Epic Universe Images
• Kings Island announces 'The Beast' will receive small makeover before 2025 season
• Lawsuit claims man suffered fatal brain injury on Six Flags roller coaster
• SeaWorld Owner United Parks Says Extreme Weather Led to Drop in Visitors

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 72 - "This Ain't Texas”

March 15th, 2025

Steph is joined by Bri (Instagram: Zero Bri Roll) and Cat (Instagram: coastercat112) of the Women Love Coasters community for a special episode to celebrate the Women of the coaster world. In addition to covering the latest coaster news, the ladies certainly don’t forget to pay their respects to Time Warp.

• Women Love Coasters
• Rumors Point To... The End of the Sky Coaster
• Monsters Inc Roller Coaster Details Revealed
• The Return of Jeeters
• Steel Curtain Won't be Open...Yet
• Fuji Q Highland Accident
• Fresno's Playland to Close...Permanently?
• Goodbye Time Warp
• Women Love Coasters at Roller Coaster Rodeo 2025
• Blusiast 4th Annual Meetup at BGT

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 68 - "Harry Potter: The Next Generation”

March 8th, 2025

Greg and Bob talk about new wands, old coasters, and a lot about IPs.

• Netflix is building an anti-Disneyland
  • Disney Plus lost 700,000 subscribers to price hikes, here’s why that won’t stop it doing more
• SeaWorld parks to introduce 'global IP' but hotel plans are delayed
  • Merlin Entertainments dives into sale of aquarium assets 
• Universal Orlando to introduce next-generation interactive wands, new experiences.
• Universal confirms it's axing attraction after teasing secret Wicked plans
• Lakemont Park to remain closed for second summer
• Lagoon is phasing out its zoo, has already relocated big cats
• Lightning Racer Turns 25
• Timber Wolf to be closed for all of 2025 Season

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 70 - "Return of the Traum Boot”

March 1st, 2025

Greg and Bob and Steph are joined by Ryan the Ride Mechanic for a truly entertaining episode that barely stays on the rails at all.  Seriously, this is a fun one.

• Off Topic: Past Times Arcade 
  • Off Topic: Warren Pizza Hut reopens as Pizza Hut Classic
  • Off Topic: IFPA Pinball  
• Themed Lands Announced for Universal Kids Resort Texas, Opening 2026
• Cedar Point reveals new experiences for 2025 season at Winter Chill Out event
  • Siren's Curse Sleek New Trains Unveiled - Coaster101
• Officials: Six Flags Great Adventure’s Kingda Ka roller coaster to be imploded Friday
• Indiana Beach Sets a New Sail
• Knoebels Bayern Kurve 
• Disney Files Permit for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Ahead of Muppets Retheme
• Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter Results

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 68 - "Epic Tivoli”

February 15th, 2025

Steph, Adam, Greg, and Bob all join in on this episode to discuss news and, oddly, Bob's health. Off topic and fun is a good way to describe this show.

• Gibtown 2025: Ride Sales & Deliveries Report - Part 2
• Six Flags Rewards paused?
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas Unveils Largest DC Universe 
• Classic Hersheypark ride will not return in 2025
• Iconic Six Flags Great America roller coaster to be named coaster Landmark 
• Stolen Quassy carousel figurine recovered after 40 years
• Carowinds WhiteWater West Super Flume
  • Ride Image
• Rapterra Construction Updates 
• Superbowl XXIII Halftime Show 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 68 - "Epic Tivoli”

February 15th, 2025

Greg and Bob are joined by Ryan the Ride Mechanic on a week with very little news so they spend most of this episode talking about experiences and interesting thoughts about the industry for this highly entertaining episode.

• Kennywood Junction, Steel Curtain
• Epic Universe Food Previewed for all Five Worlds and Helios Grand Hotel
• Animatronic of Dart from How To Train Your Dragon spotted at Epic Universe
  • Meet Sparkles
  • Security Robot Drowns in Fountain to Internet's Amusement 
• Knoebels Amusement Resort
• Hitting a peak: Lift hill connection made at 180 feet for newest coaster at SFGA 
• Disneyland visitor launches class-action suit over new, stricter disability passes
• New supports for Steel Curtain

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com