Trail designer does it as labor of love

HARD LABOR CREEK PLANTATION - Dexter Ledbetter appeared well satisfied Saturday morning. Great reviews were coming in on the trail he designed for the Fifth Annual Hard Labor Creek Hare scramble last weekend in Washington County.

"I put in about 400-500 man hours on the course," Ledbetter said as he watched motorcycle riders coming and going as they tested the trail.

The annual motorcycle event is sanctioned by the Florida Trail Riders and sponsored by the Tallahassee Trail Riders, and Ledbetter designs the course every year. "He's the best," said Hard Labor Creek Plantation owner Ted Everett.

Ledbetter and his crew worked for weeks to improve the trail (including a water hazard and other challenges) from last year. "The most important thing is the flow of the trail," Ledbetter said, "plus high speed and a single trail. We want it so everybody can enjoy it."

Classes from Peewee to Golden Master were participating at the scramble last weekend, with several classes using the full 7.1-mile enduro course with its hazards.

"We made it challenging and we hope its fun," Ledbetter said.

Originally from Pompano Beach, Ledbetter got into motorcycle racing in 1970. "I was racing top fuel cars and I was going to buy one when a friend took me out motorcycle racing in Palm Beach," he said. "One thing led to another."

Ledbetter joined the FTR in 1973 and has won several championships. He has operated or owned several businesses, including a restaurant, carpet installation, a hot rod shop and presently a wood floor business. He followed a friend to Washington County and moved here in 1989.

"I brought my dirt bikes up here and fell in love with it," he said. "You couldn't drag me out of here - its beautiful."