Cars Interviews |
"I Love Speed"
Alexandre Rizk
29thof
October
2009" |

"I Love Speed" -
Alexandre Rizk"
....and the fine toys that he owns and enjoys as well...Passion
for Car!!!
BatoAutoMoto had the opportunity to meet with Alexandre Rizk
on his beautiful Sunseeker yacht at La Marina in Dbaye.
Speaking about his long-standing interest in fine boats and
automobiles, the charming and enigmatic Alexandre Rizk gave
us the opportunity to get acquainted with him and his
lifestyle: and the fine toys that he owns and enjoys as
well.
1. Please tell me a little about
your background and what you do.
Well, I graduated
from the American University of Paris, where I studied
International Business and Political Science. When I
returned to Lebanon, I began to work in the family holding.
It consists of several companies between Lebanon, Saudi
Arabia, and the Gulf. The group is very diversified, from a
ski resort, to hotels, to financing real estate; it is very
vast. So, I am part of the Rizk holding, and as well I
manage my own companies. This is a brief summary of what I
do!
2. When did you become interested
in boats?
When I was
12 or 13, when my father offered me my first boat, a 5 meter
boat with an outboard engine. Since then, it became a hobby,
a passion. Since then, every 2-3 years I try to buy a newer
one, or a bigger one. Right now I have this Sunseeker, its a
Sunseeker 64 Predator, 20 meter.
3. What is your favorite thing
about being on the ocean?

Its about
being free - no limits. You are relaxed and calm. Sometimes
I just take the boat, without the skipper and go sailing
alone, and I stop in the middle of the sea, it is very
relaxing.
4. Would you ever like to have a
sailboat?
No, because
it is too slow. That's why I own an offshore boat.
5. So basically you enjoy speed?
Yes I love
speed.
6. What are your future plans in
the area of yachts?
I plan to
get a bigger one, and a faster one!
7. Have you ever used this boat to
go to Cyprus, Turkey and Greece?
Yes , you
can go wherever you want, you can reach Europe with it. It
has three bedrooms, a water tank,a/c, sattelite tv, gps,
radar, and autopilot. Everything you need for a trip.
8. On to cars - you have a passion
for cars I hear?

Yes, I
think that cars and boats are toys for boys. Girls have
different hobbies like bags, shoes, dresses; I think that
the few luxuries that men have are cars, boats, watches, and
yes, I do love sports cars. Every kid loves sports cars, and
I have had the chance to own them..

9. Why this car, what is special
about it?
Everything
about it is special! First of all, it is the car of James
Bond. The Aston is handmade, it is a very unique car, not in
mass production. Aston is more exclusive, luxurious and
powerful. I don't drive it all the time because of the state
of the roads, normally I drive a supercharged Range Rover,
and I find time on weekends to drive the Aston.
10. Did you ever ride a motorcycle?
Yes, I love
motorcycles. I have had a lot of motorbikes. I began with a
Z50 Honda, and every year, I changed bikes..
11. Do you have a bike today?
No I don't.
12. If you did have a bike, and you
have your cars, and your boat - and you had to let them go
in order of least important to most important - what would
be the order?
Well, first
I would let go of the bike, then the car: I keep the boat.
Definitely.
13. Concerning the prices of boats
and cars - do you think that in Lebanon they are overpriced?
Boats are
not overpriced because they do not have a large tax added
on. For a boat 15 meters and up, the tax varies between 1%
and 3%. Cars are overpriced in Lebanon, because of the
customs. Especially for luxury cars, it is huge.
14. What is a goal you have for the
near future?
A bigger
boat. One of my goals was to have the Aston Martin. I would
like to have a bigger boat, maybe four cabins, a flybridge,
something I can take out for two months at a time!
15. Would you ever enjoy living on
your boat?
If I had a
bigger boat, a huge boat, I would live on it, yes. But I
mean a huge one. Its more comfortable than a house. But the
cost is high, very high. But to live on the water is nice,
yes.
16. Do you have time in your
schedule to benefit from owning the Aston Martin and the
yacht?
Yes I do
find the time, because during the summer, in July and
August, I made a rule for myself to stop working around
noon. If someone wants to reach me, they can call me. But
for the rest of the year, I am at the office very early in
the morning, and can stay till very late at night depending
on what needs to be done.
17. How long do you intend to keep
the Aston Martin?
I will
definitely buy another Ferrari, because i love Ferrari. Not
now, maybe in a couple of years. But the Aston, it is proven
that the value increases with time. I think that it is an
investment luxury car. so i intend to keep it a long time.
18. As a conclusion, what is your
personal opinion of the BatoAutoMoto project in Lebanon?
From what
I've seen so far, it is a good thing. I don't think you have
competition in Lebanon. a project like this needed to be
done. I think it will be a blast, and i wish you good luck.
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