Side Friction: Roller Coasters and the Parks They Live In

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 Th...

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 r...

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 th...

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 driv...

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 Ceda...

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...

Side Friction - Episode 78 - "Just Add Paint" April 26th, 2025 Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have a ton of fun with this episode.  Covering the news and a healthy dose of rabbit trails for some reason this episode just seems to have brought a lot more laughs than normal. 2 new stores open at Hersheypark   Quantum Accelerator Train Reveal - Six Flags New England Kings Island honors Cincinna...

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 ge...

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 insp...

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,...

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' rolle...

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...

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 Rum...

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 aquariu...

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 T...

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 Ico...

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 Animat...

Side Friction - Episode 67 - "Holes" February 8th, 2025 Steph and Bob dig for news this week and actually find a varied collection of stuff along with some rabbit trails that no one probably would have expected. Todd Joseph racks up fines Todd Joseph Continues to Violate A Coal Fire May Have Helped Sink the 'Titanic' | Smithsonian   New details revealed about new Six Flags Over Texas roller coaste...

Side Friction - Episode 66 - "Six Flags Laid-off the Moose" February 1st, 2025 Greg and Bob discuss more of the dreary news Six Flags feels like giving us as well as a few other things but, while the news isn't bright, they go off topic to keep things fun and entertaining. Laid-off Kings Dominion worker voices frustration after losing their job: 'This has caused panic' Carowinds lays off workers a...

Side Friction - Episode 65 - "Ryan the... COASTER!" January 25th, 2025 Ryan the Ride Mechanic joins Steph, Greg, and Bob for a combination of conversation and news visiting a lot of fun topics including some interesting behind the scenes information. Six Flags in NJ unveils lineup for 2025 season, more details on new coaster Six Flags Over Georgia announces new rollercoaster: Georgia Gold Rusher F...

Side Friction - Episode 64 - "Injunction Junction" January 18th, 2025 On this episode Bob gets to be his classic self with the line up of stories.  Him and Greg talk about various new stories including an appearance of a Todd Joseph shenanigans. Judge rules Conneaut Lake Park owner violated court-issued injunction Injunction enforcement sought against Conneaut Lake Park owner Pennsylvania grandfat...

Side Friction - Episode 63 - "That Ship Has Sailed" January 11th, 2025 Steph and Greg further discuss the recent silent send off of rides, as well as an entire California amusement park in particular. Although they find hope in the direction that some parks are going, they still end up talking about the unique atmosphere of independent parks surrounded by corn fields. Theme parks and museums close...

Side Friction - Episode 62 - "Out with a Bang" January 4th, 2025 Yes, that coaster is closed.... and so is that one. Greg, Steph, and Bob all talk about the latest subtractions from Six Flags as well as other things going on in the industry.  Kick off the new year with us as we talk about what happened in the last couple of weeks of 2024. Anaconda Slated for Demolition - KDFans Kingda Ka is Set to...

Side Friction - Episode 61 - "Cedar Fyre" December 21st, 2024 Steph and Bob spend most of this episode talking about BULLSHIT and we're pretty sure you already know who is at fault. Funtime Handels the Orlando Free Fall Incident Funtime Statement on the Verdict in the Tyre Sampson Case   Two Trains Collide on Joker… Is Cedar Flags doing Carowinds dirty? CGA to change operational calendar and remov...