Canadian pioneers

Canadian George Eaton and Mexican Pedro Rodriguez have a casual chat (picture above) at the Can-Am race at Road America in 1970. George cooked his engine during practice, while Pedro went on to finish in 7th place, 3 laps down on the overall winner, Peter Gethin in a McLaren M8D.

George Eaton, born 12 November 1945, is a Canadian former racing driver who started 11 Formula 1 Grand Prix, between 1969 and 1971. He failed to score a championship point.

Although a number of Canadian drivers had competed in F1 before him, including Eppie Wietzes, Al Pease and Bill Brack, George Eaton was that country’s first full-time driver in Formula One.

He competed in 13 Grand Prix with BRM, making his debut in 1969 (two races), then contested ten events in 1970 starting eight of them, and then in one more event, the Canadian Grand Prix in 1971.