Opinion ID: 782173
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: May 12, 1988: Additional Short-Course Testing

Text: Further testing was scheduled on the short course for May 12, 1988. The parties offer conflicting justifications for why this set of tests was necessary. Suzuki suggests that the additional testing was scheduled for the purpose of shooting video footage of the Samurai for a subsequent press conference, at which it had already been decided that CU would rate the Samurai Not Acceptable. CU contends that the testing was held to evaluate the performance of the newly released 1988 Samurai, which included suspension modifications that distinguished it from the 1988 version tested previously. Small was the first to drive the Samurai through the short course on this day, tipping over onto the outriggers on his fifth run. Following Small, Wood tipped the Samurai on his second run. Pittle was watching the test runs and, prior to witnessing a tip up, stated: Can't you just see it, we get no lift off the ground. Oh God. CU also put a Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee, and Ford Festiva sedan through the short course on May 12. None of these vehicles tipped up.