Centre Vince Aso grabbed the spoils, but his midfield partnership with Ngani Laumape highlighted the Hurricanes team ethos as they ran over the Cheetahs 61-7 at Westpac Stadium.
Aso scored a hattrick of his team's nine tries to equal, then break, the Hurricanes single season Investec Super Rugby try-scoring record set by Tana Umaga.
Aso has now scored 13 tries in 11 matches, still a game to spare on Umaga, who scored his 12 tries in 12 matches during the 1997 season.
CAPTION: Vince Aso dots down for one of his three tries against the Cheetahs. PHOTO: Getty Sport
But to zero in on one player would be unfair on a Hurricanes team that worked together to convincingly post their ninth win of the year against a Cheetahs team that fought hard early, but couldn't keep up with the home side's pace.
Laumape was the chief destroyer in the backline where he regularly found, or made, holes in the defensive line to bust free to set up his speedy centre partner.
Despite the final score, the Cheetahs had turned up with plenty of fight and it took 15 minutes before the Hurricanes scored the first try of the night, lock Vaea Fifita loping over to get the ball rolling.
Fullback Beauden Barrett slotted the conversion in what was a sign of things to come. Barrett's boot was laser like from the kicking tee as he nailed five from five on a windy night, including from some difficult angles.
CAPTION: Julian Savea charges through the Cheetahs defence. PHOTO: Getty Sport
Aso got the second try when he shot onto a short ball to make it 14-0 before the Cheetahs replied with try to first five Fred Zelinga on the 26 minute mark.
Hurricanes openside Ardie Savea was a bundle of energy all night and used his strength to muscle past the Cheetahs pack to make it 21-7 on the stroke of halftime.
The tries began to flow after the break, captain and halfback TJ Perenara wriggling over before Aso equalled Umaga's record with a thrilling finish of a Laumape bust.
CAPTION: Leni Apisai is all smiles after crashing over for the last try of the night. PHOTO: Getty Sport
At 35-7 Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd took the opportunity to roll his subs and give some senior players precious rest before the squad heads to South Africa.
Prop Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, a tireless worker in the pack and one of only three players to have started every match in 2017, got a deserving try as the bench cranked up the intensity.
The subs included loose forward Hugh Renton, a deserving and long awaited Super Rugby debut.
Laumape and Aso combined again to make it 49-7, replacement wing Ben Lam opened up in impressive fashion for his first try in a Hurricanes jersey, and reserve hooker Leni Apisai crashed over to finish the scoring.
CAPTION: Brad Shields congratulates Ben Lam (No.23) on his first try for the Hurricanes. PHOTO: Getty Sport
With no injuries and a tour that includes the Bulls in Johannesburg, and the Force in Perth, the Hurricanes left Westpac Stadium satisfied with a good night's work.
Scorers:
Hurricanes 61 (Vince Aso 3, Vaea Fifita, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Jeff To'omaga-Allen, Ben Lam, Leni Apisai tries; Beauden Barrett 5 con, Otere Black 3 con) Cheetahs 7 (Fred Zeilinga tries; Zeilinga con). HT: 21-7.