 Whilst working for Norton, Vincent came into contact with established sidecar racer Cyril Smith and became interested in sidecars, later becoming grasstrack National Sidecar Champion in 1958.Before becoming well known through road-racing in the 1960s, Vincent returned to work for BSA as a bike-tester based in the Birmingham area involving road testing for performance and economy including regular stints at the MIRA proving ground.After racing on grass-tracks and speedway, he graduated to tarmac courses in 1959 on a BSA.