diff --git a/src/game/hud.tscn b/src/game/hud.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a4cd584
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/hud.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=4 format=3 uid="uid://cdlbh3smpgg42"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/game/hud_controller.gd" id="1_ckegs"]
+
+[sub_resource type="LabelSettings" id="LabelSettings_pv71o"]
+font_size = 40
+
+[sub_resource type="LabelSettings" id="LabelSettings_cu1nb"]
+font_size = 34
+
+[node name="hud" type="Control" node_paths=PackedStringArray("speed", "distance")]
+layout_mode = 3
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+script = ExtResource("1_ckegs")
+speed = NodePath("Speedometer")
+distance = NodePath("Distancemeter")
+
+[node name="Speedometer" type="Label" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = -1
+anchor_left = 1.0
+anchor_top = 1.0
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+offset_left = -220.0
+offset_top = -103.0
+grow_horizontal = 0
+grow_vertical = 0
+text = "speed"
+label_settings = SubResource("LabelSettings_pv71o")
+horizontal_alignment = 2
+vertical_alignment = 2
+
+[node name="Distancemeter" type="Label" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = 5
+anchor_left = 0.5
+anchor_right = 0.5
+offset_left = -20.0
+offset_right = 20.0
+offset_bottom = 23.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+text = "distance"
+label_settings = SubResource("LabelSettings_cu1nb")
diff --git a/src/game/hud_controller.gd b/src/game/hud_controller.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15264f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/hud_controller.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+extends Control
+#references
+## reference to the speedometer label
+@export var speed: Label
+## reference to the distance meter label
+@export var distance: Label
+
+func _on_player_speed_changed(speed_float:float):
+	var speed_string = "%.02f" % speed_float
+	print_debug("changing speed display to ", speed_string)
+	speed.set_text(speed_string)
+
+func _on_level_distance_changed(distance_float):
+	var distance_string ="%.f" % distance_float
+	distance.set_text(distance_string)
diff --git a/src/game/level.gd b/src/game/level.gd
index da41ae5..2242594 100644
--- a/src/game/level.gd
+++ b/src/game/level.gd
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ extends Node2D
 ## reference to the line node used to draw the finish line
 @export var finish: Line2D
 
+signal distance_changed(new_distance)
+
 #variables
 var width
 var running = true
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ func _process(delta):
 				print_debug("adding a lap")
 				lap_distance += path.curve.get_baked_length()
 			last_offset = offset
+		distance_changed.emit(get_total_distance())
 #		print_debug("player distance driven: ", get_total_distance(), " distance since last check: ", off_diff)
 
 
diff --git a/src/game/level1.tscn b/src/game/level1.tscn
index d4a52a9..7f24796 100644
--- a/src/game/level1.tscn
+++ b/src/game/level1.tscn
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=6 format=3 uid="uid://c77xk0mywwt5f"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=7 format=3 uid="uid://c77xk0mywwt5f"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/game/level.gd" id="1_hv75i"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://ckau5s2tsb3oc" path="res://src/game/player.tscn" id="2_5nf51"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://bd0jqkgq1gh7p" path="res://assets/track.png" id="2_knecs"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cdlbh3smpgg42" path="res://src/game/hud.tscn" id="2_w64nx"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://cd7bqj3v0k8yi" path="res://assets/finish.png" id="4_r6pvu"]
 
 [sub_resource type="Curve2D" id="Curve2D_ll8bj"]
@@ -36,3 +37,11 @@ texture_mode = 1
 [node name="player" parent="." instance=ExtResource("2_5nf51")]
 position = Vector2(42.7545, -14.9219)
 brake_strength = 800.0
+
+[node name="CanvasLayer" type="CanvasLayer" parent="."]
+
+[node name="hud" parent="CanvasLayer" instance=ExtResource("2_w64nx")]
+size_flags_horizontal = 3
+
+[connection signal="distance_changed" from="." to="CanvasLayer/hud" method="_on_level_distance_changed"]
+[connection signal="speed_changed" from="player" to="CanvasLayer/hud" method="_on_player_speed_changed"]
diff --git a/src/game/player_controller.gd b/src/game/player_controller.gd
index d9a2840..430953a 100644
--- a/src/game/player_controller.gd
+++ b/src/game/player_controller.gd
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ extends StaticBody2D
 var momentum: Vector2
 #var direction = 0 # 1 for forward, 0 for standing still, -1 for reverse
 
+signal speed_changed(new_speed)
+
 # Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
 func _ready():
 	pass
@@ -73,4 +75,5 @@ func _process(delta):
 	
 	if momentum.length() > max_speed:
 		momentum = momentum.normalized() * max_speed
+	speed_changed.emit(momentum.length())
 	move_and_collide(momentum * delta)