Build a WINNING Belt Sander Drag Racer

Step 2 I'm Torn Over Whether to Disclose this Idea or Not...

I guess in the interest of promoting the art of racing I'll go ahead and share this idea.  I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but I've never seen it discussed.  We're about to remove the exhaust fan.  Why?  Well, let me ask you this; Why do we need it?  We aren't really sanding anything, and as I see it, it's just offering resistance.  Seeing how these races last all of 2.5-3 seconds every fraction of a second counts, and this part just isn't needed.  The cover came off with four screws.

The white plastic part looks like a diverter or seal that retains and funnels the dust into the dust bag. I've never looked into this part of a sander before so it's kind of cool to see the path that the dust follows from the rear roller through the fan and into the bag. Simple and clever.  I like it and now it must go!  This part just lifted right off. It was held in place by pressure from the cast metal side of the sander.

The fan was attached with a single screw and washer.  The screw was easy to remove, but I needed to hold the fan stationary with one hand while loosening the screw.

The fan lifted right off. I don't know much this amputation is going to help, but I figure it's not going to hurt.