Victor Vincente of America, then known as Michael Beckwith Hiltner started racing at the age of 16. Won his first race, 1957. Was Southern California Junior Road Champion, 1957. All-California Road Champion, 1958 and 1965. Pan American Games, 1959. Placed 2nd in the team standings, Pan American Games Road race, 1963. Winner of the Tour du Saint Laurent, 1959. Winner of the Tour of Somerville, NJ, 1960. Olympic teams, 1960 and 1964. U.S. World Championship teams, Bern, 1961, San Sebastian, 1965 and Nürburgring, 1966. ABL of A National Road Champion, 1965. Winner of six local races in Italy, 1961 and 1966.

Hiltner independently conceived of human-powered vehicles, 1970. Established the double transcontinental record: Santa Monica – Atlantic City – Santa Monica (36 days, 8 hours, 1974) whereupon he adopted the title Victor Vincente of America. Designed, constructed, and piloted HPV Tachy Taxi, 1976, and Tachy Taxi Two, 1980.

VVA designed and mass produced the ‘Topanga!’ mountain bike, 1979, and produced VVA-26 Semi-Custom Dirt Road Bicycles, 1983 to 1995. Promoted mountain bike races, 1980 to 1995. Promoted two- and three-day supported mountain bike tours, 1984 to 1995. Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, 1989, and the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, 2001. Designed a medallion commemorating the inclusion of mountain biking in the Atlanta Olympics, 1996.

Lives in the County of Lake, California.