Battle scars no bar to army- theme bonnet bids

A CUSTOM- BUILT armythemed Supercar bonnet will still be auctioned for charity despite looking a little worse for wear after a crash in the final minutes of the Townsville 400.

Anton de Pasquale’s No. 99 Erebus Motorsport Holden bonnet included a crest from the 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, and was to be donated to the Australian Defence Force for a fundraiser after the Supercars event.

But the pristine piece of Supercars memorabilia ( left) was crumpled in the final minutes of race two at Reid Park yesterday.

Sergeant Jason Goss from Headquarters Combined Arms Training Centre said the bonnet destroyed in the race was actually the second one for the day as de Pasquale caused some damage to the first one during an earlier practice run.

“Anton damaged the first bonnet Sunday morning but it’s still in reasonable condition, so that will be the one we auction, I think,” he said.

Sgt Goss said he wasn’t sure if the damage would mean the bonnet fetched a higher or lower price at auction.

“I’m not sure what price we will get now … some people have said it might improve its worth because it’s got battle damage,” he said.

“The second race bonnet looks like an A- frame tent right now but hopefully we will sort something out.”

Sgt Goss said he had received “really positive feedback” about the bonnet.

The bonnet is expected to be auctioned in Victoria at the School of Artillery later this year.