SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by the Registrant { } Filed by a Party other than the Registrant {x} Check the appropriate box: { } Preliminary Proxy Statement { } Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) { } Definitive Proxy Statement { x } Definitive Additional Materials { } Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12 COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) THOR INDUSTRIES, INC. (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN REGISTRANT) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): { x } No Fee required. { } Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11: 1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ............................................................................ 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ............................................................................. 3) Per unit price or other underlying transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0- 11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ............................................................................. 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ............................................................................. Total fee paid: ............................................................................. { } Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. { } Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1) Amount Previously Paid: ............................................................................. 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ............................................................................. 3) Filing Party: ............................................................................. 4) Date Filed: ............................................................................. THOR INDUSTRIES, INC. 419 WEST PIKE STREET, JACKSON CENTER, OHIO 45334 (937) 596 - 6849 VIA FACSIMILE May 3, 2000 Fellow Coachmen Stockholders: Yesterday, I.S.S., the nation's leading voting advisory service, dealt Coachmen a major defeat by recommending shareholders vote AGAINST its Board of Directors. We sent a press release to you concerning I.S.S.'s statement. Also in its statement I.S.S. characterized Coachmen's performance as "substandard." On April 27, 2000, Coachmen announced that its first quarter earnings would be 25(cent)-26(cent)per share, a 40% drop from last year's first quarter. As of today, Coachmen has still not issued its complete results for the quarter. Unusual? Thor continues to urge Coachmen shareholders to vote to WITHHOLD ALL NOMINEES for directors, and vote AGAINST the 2000 Omnibus Stock Incentive Program. If you wish to change a vote you have already made, please call D.F. King & Co., toll-free at 1-888-242-8149. Sincerely, Wade F. B. Thompson Chairman