Grandparents, or Parents that lived in the 50's or 60's? Greasers Socs?

Recently I have read the book Outsiders, for a reading project, If you can help me i would appreciate it. I would like to know were the Greasers and Socs real cliques? Were they really as rough and aggresive, tough as they are in the book, and if you were one, have you ever been in one of those "Rumbles" like a gang fight with more than 2 people? When you were under the age of 18 what did you work on without a car? Were they Italian? Irish? I know some were italian, were greasers considered low lifes? The cliques seem more tough and aggressive than our youth. And if you were an actual Greaser, I would greatly appreciate your experience. thank you :D