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uOFF-ROAD AMA National Championship Hare Scrambles Series: Round 7 ~ Te rry Cunningham gives his wife Trini Runner-up Jan Hrehor (4) led Doug Blackwell (2) and Steve Hatch (38) through tum one. Cunningham scores at Sunday Creek By David L. Patton Jr. MILLFIELD, OH, SEPT. 12 o u r - ti m e N ational Enduro Champion T erry Cunningham turned in a flawless ride to bes t the se ries regulars and capture the 62nd National off-road win of his illustrious career, scoring the overall victory at the Sunday Creek National Hare Scrambles. For the Kawasaki Team Green star, who was raised in nearby Chauncey, the win was the perfect gift for his 35th birthday, which he celebrated one day later. "I only fell once today, after hitting a lapped rider," said MSR/Pro Circuit/ Bel-Ray / Dunlop / Bell / Acerbis / Ren tha I / EK / ICO -sponsored Cunningham. "The whole day just went great." Czech Jan Hrehor, riding a Yamaha/Sport Cycles Racing-backed Yamaha WR250, followed Cunningham across the line to claim second, with Rodney Smith finishing third. The show position was a disappointment for Smith. He had skipped the previous series round in New York State after suffering from heat prostration at the Pennsylvania, round, and he had a huge lead at Sunday Creek until he fell on the F 30 final lap. Hrehor also suffe red from bad luck, as he lost his rear br ake befor e the halfway point. Smith's Suzuki te amm ate Steve Hatch rode to a fourth-p la ce finish ahead of Team Mirage' s To m Norton, who rounded out the top five overall. Many potential winner s were missing from the field , in cl ud ing Scott Plessinger, who was out of action due to a knee injury. "I tore ligaments in my left knee when I was practicing a t my house (in Hamilton, Ohio) in Au gust," sa id the defending champion. "I got it op erated on a couple days later, and I should be ready for the next round (in Flat River, Missouri, October 24). This use s up one of my throw-away rides (at the end of the series, each rider's two worst scores are eliminated from the scorin g), but I should still have a good shot at the title." Also m issing was former series champ Scott Summers, who is recovering from a separated shoulder. After the weather forecast called for 85-degree temperatures, riders' were p repared for a hot day, but on race day the sky was overcast and the temperature just over 70 degrees. When the starter 's flag dropped on the JTM Promotions event, Hrehor had the lead ahe ad of Team Green's Doug Bla ckw ell , with Hatch close behind. Smith's Suz uki failed to light on the first a tte mpt, and he gave the field a foursecond head start into the first tum. As usu al, the first lap prod uced the m ost lead changes of any during the race. Hreho r surrendered the lead in a d itch and Ha tch made it 10 feet further b efor e he hit a ho le and end oed . Bla ckwell assumed the poin t but Cunn ingham soon took over, while Kawasaki-mounted Norton took a trip ov er the bars in a cow pasture. As the r iders completed the first lap, Cunningham continued to hold his lead, with Smith recovering well to sit in second p la ce . Hrehor was also close behind. Hatch held fourth place, but slid out in a turn in the motocross portion of the cou rse. The crashin g at the front of the field g av e A-class rider Gene O'Naii the chance to reel in the AA riders, and he actually led the first two laps of the race on correct ed time. A-class rider Marty Kehlm eier chased O 'Nail, but O'Nail pulled away and worked his way firmly in to the top 10 overall. By the end of the second lap, Smith had worked his way past Cunningham a n d into the lead, but Hrehor and C unningham were both in hot pursuit. The top three opened up an eight-second advantage over Hatch. Blackwell, Team Hu sqvarna's Duane Conner, Norton and Robert Patterson hooked up in a war for fifth. Hreh or was the first of the front running thr ee to fall off the pace, as he was forced to refuel before Smith and Cunningham. The gas stops proved to be instrumental in the standings, as Cunni n gham led on the fourth lap before he and Smith stopped for fuel. At that point, Hrehor retook the lead, but Smith pulled out right behind him. Hrehor's chances for the overall win had died in a water crossing on lap three, when he hit a submerged rock and bent his rear brake rotor, so Smith was soon back around and into the lead. Smith pulled away to what looked to be a certain win, w h ile Hrehor made aride after securing the overall win. two stops to refuel and attempt to repair his brakes. Cunningham took advantage of Hrehor's problem and moved into second position. Hrehor held onto third place ahead of Hatch, who was secure in fourth. Norton took over fifth place, but would not catch Hatch. "I had a hard time getting by Blackwell and by the time I d id, the leaders were gone," said Norton. Conner's day ended with a broken clutch perch, making it impossible for him to make it through the punch checks, and Patterson also suffered mechanical problems. The race appeared over as the white flag came out with Smith comfortably out in front, but it wasn't to be. "I crashed by myself on the last lap, but I wasn't worried because I had a big lead," Smith said. "Then I came up to the rocky downhill and after 1 had committed to my line, 1 saw a lapped rider crashed across my line. There was another line down the hill, but you had to take it at the top . When 1 tried to ride into it halfway down I crashed and the bike landed on top of me, pinning me to the ground." Cunningham moved by Smith and he ld on for the drama tic win . Cunningham's Kawasaki reflected his good luck for the day; after crossing the finish line, his bike didn't have enough gas left to make it to the trophy presentation. Hrehor came through in second p lace, but he wasn't satisfied: "Today 1 could have won if I had a rear brake. The course was very good ." A dejected Smith finally remounted and mo tored across the line in third, collecting nine less points toward the title than a win would have earned. "I though t 1 had it won, but you never know," said Smith. "I really need to get a win." "I had a great time," said fourthplaced Hatch, who concentrates his racing efforts on the National Enduro and Reliability Enduro Series. "I rode loose and it was a good day." Norton captured fifth overall ahead of O 'Na il, who was the A-elass winner. "I rode my best race of the year," said O'Nail. "When 1 ca ugh t the pros on the first lap, 1 didn't make any mistakes; they just pulled away from me." With Su m m ers hurt , h is mechanic