136,265 Wikipedia Articles Preserved

The English city of Liverpool and its environs boasts a remarkable list of pioneering achievements in many fields of endeavour.
World Firsts
observation of the transit of Venus, 1639
sailors' charity, 1679
wet dock, 1715
transfer printing of pottery, 1755
lifeboat station, 1776
public use of ether as an anaesthetic, 1776
American consul, James Maury, 1790
Athenaeum Club, 1797
underwriters association, 1803
cast-iron church, 1814
fare-paying passenger steam railway, 1830
Railway station and tunnels, 1830
Railway fatality, 1830
travelling post-office, 1838
transatlantic passenger service, 1840
photographic printing and developing service, 1840
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1841
Public baths and wash-houses, 1842
Medical Officer for Health, 1847
non-combustible warehouse, 1848
modern air-conditioning system, 1848
Rugby club, 1857
steel ship, 1858
iron-framed curtain-walled building, 1864
transatlantic telegraph cable, 1886
purpose-built football ground, 1892
overhead electric railway, 1893
automatic railway signalling, 1893
long-distance radio transmission, 1894
School of Architecture, 1895
cinematographic tracking shot, 1896
School of Tropical Medicine, 1898
performance of Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance No.1, 1901
Chair of Biochemistry, 1902
pre-cast concrete building, 1905
ring road, 1905
large re-inforced concrete building, 1911
interplanetery society, 1933
performance of Bartok's Piano Concerto, 1944
performance of Britten's Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, 1946
radar lighthouse, 1947
banking computer, 1960
dedicated cancer research centre, 1997
zoonosis research centre, 2006
European Firsts
ferry service, 12th Century
circulating library, 1757
purpose-built prison, 1786
Woolworth's store, 1909
British Firsts
street cleaners, 1749
School for the Blind, 1791
corn exchange, 1808
School for the Deaf, 1825
Borough engineer, 1840
office block, 1841
fire salvage corps, 1842
girls high school, 1844
Trades Council, 1848
Chess club, 1857
tramway, 1857
purpose-built public library, 1860
Cycling club, 1867
steamroller, 1867
municipal trams, 1868
council house, 1869
Institute of Chartered Accountants, 1870
disarmament campaign, 1875
public Art Gallery, 1877
electrically-lit library, 1879
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 1883
ambulance, 1886
mosque, 1889
domestic gas meters, 1889
X-ray, 1896
railway station escalator, 1901
anti-tubercular campaign, 1901
motorised fire-engine, 1902
Nobel prize (Ross), 1902
electric railway, 1903
Chair of Physical Chemistry, 1903
School of Veterinary Science, 1904
professorship of Russian, 1908
Chair of Civic Design, 1909
automatic telephone exchange, 1912
School of Oceanography, 1919
slab-reinforced concrete building, 1919
age concern society, 1922
hyperbolic cooling towers, 1924
juvenile court, 1925
arts centre, 1927
veterinary hospital, 1929
purpose-built boxing stadium, 1932
police two-way radio communication, 1934
marriage guidance service, 1936
citizens' advice bureau, 1938
chinese newspaper, 1944
legal aid service, 1947?
scheduled passenger helicopter service, 1950
public planetarium, 1970
public art conservation centre, 1997
Provincial Firsts (outside London)
Children's hospital, 1851
Nursing School, 1862
municipal electric lighting, 1879
airport, 1933
passenger air service to Europe, 1934
orchestra to achieve Royal assent, 1957
drive-in bank, 1959
mass x-ray screening, 1959
awarded the prestigious blue plaque, 1998
Largest, Longest, Tallest, etc
World
Europe
The largest Chinese Arch outside of China.
Britain
The largest clocks in Britain, on the Royal Liver Building
longest and highest canal, the Leeds-Liverpool canal
largest prison
Provincial
largest circulation evening newspaper
Lasts
Confederate navy ship to surrender, CSS Shenandoah, 1865
hanging, 1964
scheduled steam passenger rail service, 1967
provincial clearing bank, Martin's bank, 1972
working Proscenium cinema screen in the world

The foundation FISC EuroTour was founded in 1994 with the explicit purpose of preserving historic and classic motorcars, and more specifically the European marques and types, through a programme of promotion by organizing motor races in Western Europe on historic Grand Prix circuits, representing the ambiance of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
It was felt that such a series would encourage the preservation, restoration and rebuilding of precious cars, which could be seen racing in their original state and environment.
For its financing the foundation is totally dependent on membership fees and donations.
History
In 1994, a pilot race was organized as part of the first British Race Festival, often referred to as the British ‘Rain’ Festival, at the circuit of Zandvoort. Because of the dreadful weather circumstances, this race only attracted 12 drivers in their Austin Healey Sprites and MG Midgets.
Despite a very poor showing, it was decided to organize a complete series of six events for the above cars in 1995. Even in its first year, quality circuits such as Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Zandvoort (The Netherlands), Nürburgring GP (Germany), Brands Hatch (United Kingdom) and Goodyear (Luxembourg) were on the race calendar.
Starting grids rapidly developed into 30 car grids on average, containing cars as beautiful as the Sebring Sprite, Lenham Sprite, Ashley Sprite, Jakobs Midget, Speedwell Sprite and of course the more common Frogeye, the Austin Healey Sprite Mk II - IV and the MG Midget Mk I - III.
BMC ‘A’ Series
With a recession in 2003, grid numbers deteriorated. This economic climate prompted the foundation to expand the original concept to that of a new and unique series allowing all types of BMC ‘A’ series engined cars to take part from 2006 onwards. The regulations are designed to achieve a perfect match between competitors, as all cars are of similar weight and engine capacity. The grids are a showcase of the British Motor industry at its peak, one of the reasons why the series was granted use of the ‘BMC rosette’ from British Motor Heritage Ltd.
Legendary Circuits Series
In 2006, a pilot race for all types of European historic sports & saloon cars was run at the old Nordschleife circuit, located in the very centre of the Eifel Mountains in Germany. The success of the race provided an opportunity to expand on the concept, so offering a wider range of historic motor racing enthusiasts the possibility to enjoy the most legendary circuits throughout Europe. A wide variety of cars is eligible, thus meeting the original foundation’s goals to the full.

Jimmy Marshall Franklin (May 16, 1948 - July 10, 2005) was a famous aerobatic and air show pilot.
He was born to Oliver Gene “Zip” and Valerie Franklin in Lovington, New Mexico. Franklin loved aviation from the start and he learned to fly sitting on his father's lap, and one day while he was home alone at age 12, he sneaked out and flew his first solo flight. Shortly after, he taught himself aerobatics and began his 38-year air show career at the age of 19. He began flying air shows in a 1939 Waco UPF-7, the same type of aircraft he flew up until his death.
Performances
Over the years, Franklin introduced many new and unique acts into the airshow industry. These acts included a Waco routine with Elliot Cross called "The Dueling Wacos", a dual wingwalking routine, and Jimmy even portrayed a comic book/spaceage character he created named "ZAR", in which he flew an all black, twin-engine Aerostar called the "Starship Pride".
During Franklin's career, he has thrilled and amazed audiences all over the world. He performed in air shows in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Australia. Franklin's talent can also be seen in countless movies and television shows, such as Terminal Velocity, Forever Young, The Rocketeer, ', Choke Canyon, and World's Most Amazing Videos.
In 1999, Franklin debuted his latest project, the World's only Jet-Powered Waco. With the help of Les Shockley, creator of the "Shock Wave" jet truck, they were able to modify Jimmy's 1939 Waco bi-plane with a T-38 Talon (J-85) jet engine along with the 450 horse power Pratt & Whitney radial prop engine. With both engines turning, the Jet Waco put out over 4,500 pounds of thrust at over 2,000 horsepower, allowing Franklin to perform stunts no one had ever seen or attempted in this type of plane. In addition to his normal air show routine, Jimmy Franklin also had a wingwalker routine. Franklin's list of wingwalkers was lengthy and included the legendary Johnny Kazian (who also announced Jimmy's solo performance), Laurie Lynn Ross, Lee Oman, Carol Pilon, and even his son Kyle.
Kyle Franklin
Jimmy's son, Kyle, was also bitten by the aviation bug from the start. He first rode in an airplane when he was just four weeks old. The Franklins family lived in an apartment inside an airplane hangar that looked out a glass wall into the hangar. That served as his favorite playground. He was at his father's side throughout his childhood, helping him work on and service Wacos, Super Cubs, and the Aerostar. Kyle, an accomplished pilot in his own right, is not new to what some people would call "dare-devilish" feats. As a toddler, he learned to ride a tricycle on just two wheels and soon there after graduated to BMX freestyling and airwalking. At the age of eight Kyle fell in love with DeLorean cars. By age 11 he had mastered motorcycles. By his sophomore year in high school he had bought his own DeLorean, modifying it with a bigger engine, flame thrower, and oil-slick and smoke system, and worked it into the air show lineup.
Kyle became a very important part of his father's air show career. Besides serving as a wingwalker for his father, before and after the jet engine was slung underneath the Waco, he and his father were founding members of the new X-Team, which dubbed themselves as the Masters of Disaster, which began performing at air shows in 2003. The X-Team members included Jimmy Franklin, Kyle Franklin, Bobby Younkin, Jim LeRoy, Kent & Scott Shockley, John Mohr, and Kent Pietsch (with Rich Gibson of Rich's Incredible Pyro to join the following year). The X-Team's "Masters of Disaster" featured at least two of the above mentioned pilots, usually Jimmy Franklin, Bobby Younkin, and Jim LeRoy with either Kent Shockley with the Shockwave Jet Truck or Scott Shockley with the Super Shockwave Jet Truck (or at some air shows, both jet trucks). Kyle Franklin served as announcer and safety observer for the X-Team while the team was performing. The performance featured hair-raising opposing maneuvers at low altitude and high velocities while playing "chicken" with the jet truck spewing flames from its engines and pyrotechnics going off in the background. The conclusion of every X-Team performance featured a race between the jet truck and one or two of the participating pilots, with the remaining pilots coming in from the opposite direction and playing chicken with the racing pilot(s).
Death
On Sunday July 10, 2005, Jimmy Franklin, Bobby Younkin, Jim LeRoy, and Scott Shockley were all invited to perform at the Saskatchewan International Air Show in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Each of the performers flew their separate performances and joined up to fly the X-Team performance over the two day air show. Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin were killed during Sunday's X-Team performance as both of their aircraft collided in mid-air towards the end of that day's flying activities. Jim LeRoy was not involved and was able to land safely.
Today, Kyle Franklin says that he will follow in his father's footsteps and plans to go forward for the 2006 air show season and debut several new acts to the air show circuit, which will include an aerobatic act with the Waco "Mystery Ship", a wingwalking act, an aerobatic act with a Travel Air Mystery Ship, a comedy act with a Super Cub, and the only motorcycle-to-airplane transfer in the air show industry. Kyle plans to perform many of the acts with Matt Younkin, who is the son of Bobby Younkin.