Quote Originally Posted by David McKinney View Post
I really must go through programmes etc from its first appearance (February 1961) to see how it should be spelt. I'm fairly sure I decided back in the day it should be 'Masarrari', but there were numerous other spellings. McRae himself was asked a couple of years ago for a definitive ruling and didn't know...
OK - here we go. First appearance was April 1961, not February

Primary source (ie, contemporary) references to first appearances
(up to end of 1962 only)

What I have always believed to be the correct version highlighted in bold

1/4/61 Palmer Head hillclimb
Evening Post: Austin Special
Dominion: Masararri

8/4/61 Houghton Bay hillcimb
WCC Bulletin: Masarrari (twice)

15/4/61 Levin
Evening Post preview: “Masararri, not to be confused with Masaratti”
Programme: as in previous post
WCC Bulletin: Masarrari

07/04/62 Houghton Bay hillclimb
Evening Post: Maseratti
WCC Bulletin: Masarrari, Massarrari, Maserarri, Maserrarri

27/7/62 WCC Levin sprint
Evening Post: Masarrari
WCC Bulletin: Masarrari

24/11/62 Levin
Programme: Maserati (three times)
Auckland Star Sports: Maserarri
Dominion: Masararri once, Masarrari once
Evening Post: Masarrari

15/12/62 Ohakea
Programme: late entry – not listed
Evening Post: Masarrari

29/12/62 Mount Maunganui
Programme: Masararri (four times)